Form lock keeps feet on ground as partners fall | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Ross Filipo must feel like the hero of a thriller movie at present as his partners tumble around him while pursues the villains in the shape of Super 14 rivals.

Against the Highlanders at Carisbrook tomorrow the 1.98m lock will have his third partner in three weeks in Isaac Ross after first Chris Jack and then Michael Paterson were laid low.

Filipo was the star of the show against the Force last week with his sensational hat-trick of tries, but has been slightly embarrassed about being in the spotlight.

However, he couldn't resist pointing out that while the Crusaders forwards had been "pretty humble" about contributing seven of the eight tries, the backs hadn't been gracious about it.

"Leon MacDonald's the classic ? he was complaining for about two hours after the game. He's so competitive he couldn't help himself. He couldn't bite his tongue and just let someone bask in their glory!"

Filipo had mates calling to ask if Elvis was still in the building after his Las Vegas-style celebration of his third try, but didn't waste any time refocusing this week for what he warns will be a much tougher match than the positions in the table suggest.

Now in his fourth season with the Crusaders, Filipo admits he didn't realise the depth of the rivalry either side of the great Waitaki divide when he first came here.

"It's a lot more physical than when Wellington play Otago," he said.

"They definitely throw themselves at the line and at you. You can tell they're really passionate about that rivalry and both teams enjoy it.

"At first I didn't really understand the whole rivalry thing, but it's become a lot clearer the last couple of years!

"Matches against the Highlanders are tough, really huge physical encounters. You come off after them and you're absolutely buggered, and we wouldn't expect anything less from them this week."

The Highlanders had nothing to lose now, and would probably try to attack from anywhere, he said.

"They'll want to cause a few upsets before their season's out, and they'll be targeting us pretty heavily to give us a real tough one at Carisbrook," he said.

The changes in the No. 5 jersey had not been disruptive to the second row, he said.

"There's been a couple of untimely injuries to Jacko and Pato, but the guys who are stepping in like Isaac Ross, he's a good athlete.

"And there's Kevin O'Neill as well, he's another good athlete. So we've really got a good amount of depth in the team. I've got full confidence in every single one of these guys as a partner and hopefully they've got the same faith in me."

Filipo and Ross packed down together briefly on the tour matches against the Cheetahs and Sharks and in pre-season, and Filipo said he had a great skill set, good hands, and liked to showcase his skills. "He'll be keen-as to get out there and give it everything he's got."

Filipo was given new responsibility this year calling the lineouts and showing leadership.

Now the changes around him put even more burden on him, but Filipo's broad shoulders can take it.

While it's been a memorable season for him so far, he said he wouldn't be satisfied until the Crusaders got where they wanted to be ? in the final.

"Until then I'm going to keep myself under pressure to perform and asking questions of myself whether I'm performing well enough, and critiquing my game each week."

Fired up though the Highlanders will be, that sort of search for perfection by the Crusaders should be too much for the southerners.