The Crusaders' Kieran Reid was left standing alone when Michael Hooper arrived let © Getty Images

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Crusaders captain Kieran Read walked out on a scheduled photo shoot with Michael Hooper and the Super Rugby trophy on Friday after the New South Wales Waratahs skipper arrived one hour late.

Hooper arrived late at ANZ Stadium after the Waratahs' captain's run - held as usual at Allianz Stadium, some 45 minutes from the match venue - ran over time.

Tensions were already high in both camps with the Waratahs privately unhappy after the Crusaders demanded the shoot take place at ANZ Stadium rather than the more scenic - and central - backdrop of Sydney Harbour.

And preparations for the showpiece on Saturday night ended in bizarre and embarrassing fashion when Hooper was left to pose solo with the trophy, which he refused to touch.

"It would be nice if I can touch it tomorrow night," he said. "It would be cool."

Michael Hooper refused to touch the Super Rugby trophy © Getty Images

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The Waratahs head to Homebush this weekend with the competition-leading attacking and defensive records in 2014, but still they have their critics - with ESPN correspondent and former All Blacks prop Craig Dowd deriding their pack as a "soft underbelly".

"All we can do is go out there and try to prove that wrong at the end of the day," Waratahs coach Michael Cheika said as they completed preparations to win the Super Rugby title for the first time, having lost two previous grand final appearances, both to the Crusaders, who have won the two sides' past 11 encounters stretching back to 2004.

"It's all about what you do and then being judged on what you do."

Hooper said he'd be disappointed if anyone under-estimated the Waratahs after winning their past seven games by an average of 25 points.

"We finished on top this year, so we did well in the minor premiership," he said. "[We're] new to finals footy, a lot of us, so I guess people can be apprehensive about us in this situation. But we're hungry. We want to be there and we figure we're in this position for a reason, and you've got to be able to try and grab the opportunity with both hands.

"Obviously against a good Crusaders outfit, things aren't going to happen easily. They're not going to give you ways to score tries, ways to put points on the board. You've got to be able to make opportunities."