Growing Hurricanes' confidence will meet implacable Crusaders' method when the sides play in Saturday's Super Rugby Aotearoa game in Christchurch on Saturday.
If the Hurricanes are to be a genuine chance of pushing through the field to claim the title in the second half of the competition, they need a win at Orangetheory Stadium, something they haven't achieved since 2016.
It was a knockout game for the Hurricanes, while the Crusaders if beaten, would have a second chance. That was in the background as it was more important the players were prepared to do their job in helping towards achieving a win, coach Jason Holland said.
On the back of three consecutive wins, the side was getting better and better and that was the satisfying point, Holland said.
The Crusaders had demonstrated the dominance they could achieve in the final quarter of games and that was a reminder to the Hurricanes that they would have to be relentless.
That was what they had achieved against the Blues at the weekend and they would have to do it again against a Crusaders side who were ruthless in their 80-minute game, and especially at home.
"We've got to make sure we're putting pressure on them for 80 and not taking our foot off the gas," he said.
It was doing little things well that was giving the side momentum and it was important to understand that.
They had shown in recent years that they could pressure the Crusaders deep into games and had got close without being able to get over the line first.
Hooker Dane Coles wasn't considered due to a back niggle and it was more important to have him at 100 per cent fitness than to hurry up his return to the side. They did have Asafo Aumua and Ricky Riccitelli to call on which was one benefit.
Aumua was 'dying to play' while the work Riccitelli had done for the Hurricanes in the past tended to be forgotten about, so the chance to play was exciting for them, he said.
The choice of playing Wes Goosen at wing was down to believing he gave them the best chance of beating the Crusaders. Kobus van Wyk is not on the match 23 as Chase Tiatia and Vince Aso were preferred on the bench.
The game would also be wing Ben Lam's last game, and his 50th, for the side as he had to be in France in 10 days.
The Crusaders also have injury concerns with centre Braydon Ennor the latest casualty, out with a foot injury caused when someone stood on it in their game against the Blues.
But coach Scott Robertson wasn't especially concerned with the side's injury list.
"They [injuries] would be concerning if we had ten games left. But it's quite interesting, the depth of our squad, every time someone has got an opportunity they have taken it, and they haven't given the jersey away," he said.
Robertson said Ennor's injury was an accident.
"He just got landed on. It was hard for him to walk for the first week but, it's freeing up quite a bit now. His return-to-run stuff has been good."
His absence has provided a starting chance for Tongan Test and Sevens representative Fetuli Paea.
With David Havili out, Brett Cameron returns to the bench as cover for Richie Mo'unga.
He last played at Super Rugby level in March and Robertson said it was a good thing he had been playing plenty of club rugby for his Lincoln University side.
"When you've got depth and you've got someone that is so versatile and is your vice-captain, it means you can carry a bit more firepower on the bench without carrying a 10 [first five-eighths]," he said.
"It's hard for him, but now is his time. We know he is competent and confident," he said.
The teams are:
Crusaders: 1.Joe Moody, 2.Codie Taylor (captain), 3.Michael Alaalatoa, 4.Samuel Whitelock, 5.Mitchell Dunshea, 6.Tom Sanders, 7.Tom Christie, 8.Whetukamokamo Douglas, 9.Bryn Hall, 10.Richie Mo'unga, 11.George Bridge, 12.Jack Goodhue, 13.Fetuli Paea, 14.Sevu Reece, 15.Will Jordan.
Substitutes: 16.Andrew Makalio, 17.George Bower, 18.Oliver Jager, 19.Quinten Strange, 20.Sione Havili, 21.Mitchell Drummond, 22.Brett Cameron, 23.Leicester Fainga'anuku.
Hurricanes: 1.Fraser Armstrong, 2.Asafo Aumua, 3.Tyrel Lomax, 4.James Blackwell, 5.Scott Scrafton, 6.Reed Prinsep, 7.Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8.Ardie Savea, 9.TJ Perenara (captain), 10.Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11.Ben Lam, 12.Ngani Laumape, 13.Peter Umaga-Jensen, 14.Wes Goosen, 15.Jordie Barrett.
Substitutes: 16.Ricky Riccitelli, 17.Tevita Mafileo, 18.Alex Fidow, 19.Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20.Vaea Fifita, 21.Jamie Booth, 22.Vince Aso, 23.Chase Tiatia.