Crusaders get down to business | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

The serious business of 2005 starts for the Crusaders today when they meet the Waratahs in Sydney in the first of their two pre-season matches in Australia.

The Crusaders started with the seven young players from their wider training group and made 14 substitutions in last week's 38-43 loss to the Highlanders.

However, the lineup to meet the Waratahs looks more businesslike, and Rob Deans wants a big step up after the more relaxed hit-out in Timaru.

"We will look for a bit more combination and obviously the intensity will go up," he said.

"It will give us match conditioning and be against international opposition as opposed to local."

Deans wants an improvement in transition from attack to defence after the Crusaders were "burned a couple of times" in Timaru.

Although the matches in Sydney and Brisbane are both at night, Deans still expects the heat to be a challenge.

Justin Marshall is unavailable tomorrow because of the same virus that sidelined him in Timaru, and Andrew Mehrtens gets the No.10 jersey with New Zealand player of the year Dan Carter starting outside him at second-five. However, Deans indicated these positions may be only for the first half.

"Mehrts has had an off-season for the first time in a long time, and he's in the best shape he's been in for some time," said Deans.

Scott Hamilton, who scored two tries in Timaru, is at fullback again, and Rico Gear starts on the wing.

Youngsters Kevin O'Neill (who also started in Timaru) and Jamie Nutbrown get a chance to impress Deans in an international setting.

Norm Maxwell may not be in the picture for a while ? Deans said he is having a "managed introduction" and may not be in action til the fourth round.

"The Timaru match was good, great," said Deans. "We got exactly what we were seeking.

"It was never going to be without error. There was some good stuff and not so good, but the key thing is, the guys started the adjustment from training to playing."

The Crusaders meet the Reds at Ballymore on Wednesday.