Crusaders' ongoing Super Rugby campaign has been boosted by the return of All Blacks skipper Kieran Read ahead of their clash against Chiefs scheduled to be played at Eden Park on Saturday.
A late surge from Chiefs proved decisive as they went on to complete a 29-23 win over Sharks in their Super Rugby encounter at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday.
New Zealand international Brodie Retallick will continue to remain on the sidelines for another three weeks after failing to make sufficient recovery from a wrist injury.
Highlanders overcame a red card to Sio Tomkinson as they edged out Chiefs 27-30 in the opening game of the Super Rugby 2019 at FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday.
Hurricanes survived a late scare from Chiefs as they defeated their New Zealand rivals with a 32-31 margin at Westpac Stadium to become the first team to reach the semi-final in the ongoing season of Super Rugby.
Chiefs centre Jonathan Faauli was handed a six-week suspension following his red-card incident in the recently concluded Super Rugby encounter against Hurricanes at FMG Stadium Waikato.
Chiefs have received a much-needed boost ahead of the Friday's Super Rugby encounter against Hurricanes with New Zealand international Brodie Retallick returning back to the line-up.