26 Jul 2013

Chiefs braced for fired up Crusaders

7:32 am on 26 July 2013

The Chiefs are preparing for an attacking onslaught from the Crusaders in their Super Rugby semi-final tomorrow night.

The Crusaders arrive in Hamilton as hot favourites to advance to the final, despite the Chiefs' pedigree as defending champions and winners of the New Zealand conference.

That favouritism is partly due to the Crusaders deadly attack since the international break, averaging over 36 points a game and the Chiefs' playmaker Aaron Cruden's expecting more of the same.

Cruden will be playing inside an all new midfield pairing for the Chiefs, with the utility Andrew Horrell, partnering Charlie Ngatai.