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QUICK TAP: HURRICANES BRACE FOR CRUSADERS CHALLENGE

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"They're as desperate as anyone and that's where we're at. They'll be disappointed coming off that performance for them [against the Highlanders] at home so we'll probably get the backlash of that.

"But we've also got something to prove. We're at home ourselves and we want to keep moving forward with what we want to achieve so it should be a good game," he said.

Sonny Bill Williams has not been considered due to a concussion suffered in last week's victory over the Waratahs. But Umaga was confident his progress through the concussion testing would have him available for consideration for the side's trip to Africa next week for their one-off game with the Stormers.

He confirmed that lock Patrick Tuipulotu was over his back complaint and had been excited when told he would be starting against the Cheetahs and the goal for the Blues was to have that excitement channelled into the game.

While the return of players from injury made selection considerations tougher, it was timely because there were some tired bodies that had carried the load during recent weeks.

The side was growing in confidence and they had enjoyed a big first half against the Waratahs but the second half had not been so good, so there was always work that needed to be done. It was also significant that while some of their more senior players were out injured it had been the less experienced players who had stood up and performed.

Umaga said he was pleased with the way loose forward Akira Ioane had stepped up in recent weeks, especially since injury to Jerome Kaino.

He was still a young man and he was stepping into the boots of one of the side's best loose forwards for a long time.

"I think he's doing very well for his age group. He's still got a bit of improvement to do but we're very happy with him and I think he's stepped up to the job at hand and I still think he has got so much to improve on. He's pretty good now so imagine what he's going to be like in two or three years time when he really gets the hang of the role that he's in," he said.

All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino was recovering well from his surgery and he was happy with his progress but Umaga said they had to be mindful they didn't push him too hard as he had a big year ahead of him. There was still a chance he would be fit for consideration to play for the Blues against the British & Irish Lions.

1 Pauliasi Manu, 2 James Parsons ©, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 5 Scott Scrafton, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Blake Gibson, 8 Akira Ioane; 9 Augustine Pulu, 10 Piers Francis, 11 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 13. George Moala, 14 Declan O’Donnell, 15 Melani Nanai. 

Replacements: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Michael Collins.