THE Canterbury Crusaders will face up to the ACT Brumbies in their vital final-round Super 12 clash without the services of Andrew Mehrtens, but the All Black flyhalf is likely to play in the semi-finals. Mehrtens failed the final fitness test on Wednesday today and his place will be taken for the second week by young Aaron Mauger. Among the loose-forwards things are looking up with eightman Ron Cribb and blindside flanker Reuben Thorne cleared to play against the Brumbies at Jade Stadium. The Crusaders have made just one change from the team which beat the Waratahs, 22-13 last week, with All Blacks loosehead prop Greg Feek back from injury and replacing David Hewett in the front row.
Crusaders:
Leon MacDonald, Marika Vunibaka, Mark Robinson, Caleb Ralph, Mark Mayerhofler, Aaron Mauger, Justin Marshall, Ron Cribb, Scott Robertson, Norm Maxwell, Todd Blackadder (captain), Reuben Thorne, Greg Somerville, Mark Hammett, Greg Feek. Reserves: Daryl Gibson, Norm Berryman, Ben Hurst, Dallas Seymour, Chris Jack, Con Barrell, Slade McFarland.