Richie McCaw returns for the Crusaders © Getty Images

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Matches: Crusaders 24 - 30 Hurricanes

Players/Officials: Richie McCaw | Brad Thorn

Tournaments/Tours: Super 14

Teams: Crusaders | Hurricanes | New Zealand

The Crusaders have received a massive boost ahead of their Super 14 derby with the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Friday after Richie McCaw and Brad Thorn were declared fit to play.

McCaw passed an impact test in order to determine that he had sufficiently recovered from a concussion while Thorn passed a test on his heel injury and will start alongside Ross Filipo in the second-row. The news was not so good for scrum-half Andy Ellis, who will miss the game after spraining his ankle during last weekend's narrow defeat to the Brumbies. His place is taken by Kahn Fotuali'i.

Jason Macdonald replaces the unfortunate Corey Flynn at hooker after Flynn broke his arm for the fourth time against the Brumbies.

The Hurricanes have made eight changes for the game, with Rodney So'oialo returning to lead the side after sitting out last weekend's game with a suspension. Hooker Dane Coles misses out after being banned for a game and fined for disorderly behaviour in Wellington on Saturday, his place going to Ged Robinson.

Tim Fairbrother has been named for his first game of the season at tight-head prop, with Neemia Tialata dropping to the bench while Karl Lowe replaces Faifili Levave at blindside flanker.

In a reshuffled backline, Piri Weepu starts at fly-half, with Alby Mathewson at scrum-half, and last week's No.10 Daniel Kirkpatrick on the bench. All Black pair Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith return to the Hurricanes midfield and Zac Guildford returns to the right wing in place of David Smith.

Crusaders: Stephen Brett, Jared Payne, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Kade Poki, Colin Slade, Kahn Fotuali'i, Thomas Waldrom, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Ross Filipo, Brad Thorn, Ben Franks, Jason Macdonald, Wyatt Crockett

Replacements: Daniel Perrin, Bronson Murray, Isaac Ross, George Whitelock, Tyson Keats, Ryan Crotty, Adam Whitelock

Hurricanes: Cory Jane, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Piri Weepu, Alby Mathewson, Rodney So'oialo (captain), Scott Waldrom, Karl Lowe, Jason Eaton, Jeremy Thrush, Tim Fairbrother, Ged Robinson, John Schwalger.

Replacments: Jacob Ellison, Neemia Tialata, Bryn Evans, Faifili Levave, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Tamati Ellison, David Smith.