Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw is out with injury this weekend © Getty Images

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Matches: Brumbies 18 - 16 Crusaders

Players/Officials: Richie McCaw | Leon MacDonald | Brad Thorn

Tournaments/Tours: Super 14

Teams: Brumbies | Crusaders | New Zealand

Super 14 holders Crusaders host the Brumbies at the AMI Stadium on Saturday missing their influential captain Richie McCaw. McCaw has failed to recover in time from a blow to the head that he took last week against the Chiefs while Brad Thorn and Leon MacDonald also miss out through injury.

Crusaders head coach, Todd Blackadder, said that McCaw was close to being available but was not quite 100 per cent.

"He has been following our concussion protocols this week and we've been monitoring him closely but the Crusaders management, along with Richie, have decided that he won't play this week," Blackadder said.

George Whitelock will replace McCaw in the no 7 jersey, Isaac Ross replaces Thorn and Stephen Brett slots into the fullback position for McDonald. Kieran Read has been named as captain in McCaw's absence.

The Brumbies have named an unchanged side from the one that pipped the Highlanders 33-31 last week and will be confident of an upset win in Christchurch. Wing Clyde Rathbone was a doubt after suffering a facial injury but he's recovered in time to retain his place on the wing.

Head Coach Andy Friend has named nine men on his bench with Shawn Mackay and flanker Mitchell Chapman pencilled in - he will omit two of his replacements just prior to the game.

"There were a number of pleasing aspects to come out of last Friday's game but in such a short competition we need to be improving each week," Andy Friend said. "We know that the Crusaders are a quality outfit. They are an extremely patient side that will wait for their opposition to make a mistake and capitalise on it whether that be in the 10th minute or the 80th.

Crusaders: Stephen Brett; Jared Payne, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Kade Poki; Colin Slade, Andy Ellis; Thomas Waldrom, George Whitelock, Kieran Read (captain), Ross Filipo, Isaac Ross, Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: Jason Macdonald, Bronson Murray, Michael Paterson, Nasi Manu, Kahn Fotuali'I, Ryan Crotty, Adam Whitelock.

Brumbies: Mark Gerrard; Clyde Rathbone, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Stirling Mortlock, Francis Fainifo; Christian Lealiifano, Patrick Phibbs, Stephen Hoiles (captain), George Smith, George Smith, Julian Salvi, Mark Chisholm, Ben Hand, Guy Shepherson, Stephen Moore, Nic Henderson.

Reserves: John Ulugia, Ben Alexander, Sitaleki Timani, Peter Kimlin, Joshua Holmes, Tyrone Smith, Matt Toomua, Shawn Mackay, Mitchell Chapman.