After waiting 18 years for their first win in Christchurch, straight-talking Sharks coach Jake White is upbeat about his side's chances of doubling the pain for the Crusaders this weekend.
The Sharks will take plenty of confidence from their historic 30-25 win over the seven-time Super Rugby champions at AMI Stadium in May as they prepare for Saturdays' semi-final at the same venue.
That victory - their first since the competition started in 1996 - was achieved despite the Sharks having flanker Jean Deysel sent off after 16 minutes for stomping and being reduced to 13 players after 64 minutes when Willem Alberts was sin-binned.
"We're confident that if we play properly we can beat anyone anywhere and that's what you have to believe," he said at the team's Clearwater Resort base in Christchurch.
White said the Crusaders would be a different proposition on Saturday, boosted by the return of All Blacks Kieran Read, Dan Carter, Israel Dagg, Matt Todd and Dominic Bird.
"But in saying that we beat them last year in Durban and this year in Christchurch," White said.
"So in reality this group of players have won home and away and I'm sure we're looking forward to playing knock-out rugby again this weekend where the winner takes all."
Despite the Sharks' breakthrough win in May, the South Africans will need to overcome another daunting historical obstacle.
The Crusaders, who have reached the semi-finals for 13 successive years, have never lost a home semi-final. The Sharks were beaten 36-32 in the 1998 semi-final in Christchurch.
White said the Sharks would play to their strengths, kicking for territory and banking on their powerful forward pack to gain ascendancy in the tight.
"We're very dominant and orientated in our set piece, but we would like to believe there is more to our game.
"But knockout rugby is about playing to your strengths. The Crusaders are one of the most conservative teams but they are consistently the best of all five New Zealand franchises."
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