All Blacks great Richie McCaw has been named on the Crusaders' bench for their Super Rugby elimination final against the Queensland Reds in Christchurch on Saturday.
With just one game of club rugby under his belt following a six-month break, 116-Test veteran McCaw has been included in a squad that features three changes.
Only one change is made to the starting XV, where lock Luke Romano has recovered from the ankle injury that ruled him out of the 25-17 win over the Hurricanes on Friday. He replaces Tom Donnelly.
It means the Crusaders will field eight All Blacks in their pack and a handy back-up in McCaw, who has taken Jimmy Tupou's spot on the bench.
Interest surrounds how much game time the 32-year-old will receive.
McCaw admitted to feeling tired during his 80 minutes of action in his Christchurch club hit-out last weekend, his first game since the All Blacks' loss to England at Twickenham in early December.
Romano's return means the Crusaders will field the same starting team who humbled the defending champion Chiefs 43-15 two weeks ago.
Inside centre Tom Taylor has recovered from a head knock that forced him off against the Hurricanes, meaning there is no need to shift star five-eighth Dan Carter out one spot to cover his absence.
McCaw's inclusion leaves no specialist lock on the reserves bench, with loose forward Luke Whitelock to provide cover.
Utility back Adam Whitelock has replaced Telusa Veainu in the squad, meaning there are four Whitelock brothers in the Crusaders' 22 - starting forwards Sam and George, and reserves Luke and Adam.
The fourth-ranked Crusaders take an unbeaten home record this season into the match against the fifth-ranked Reds.
Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Tom Marshall, Ryan Crotty, Tom Taylor, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (capt), Matt Todd, George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Luke Whitelock, Richie McCaw, Willi Heinz, Tyler Bleyendaal, Adam Whitelock.
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