Barrett said any game against the Chiefs reflected their nature of being an 80-minute team who were competitive and who had beaten the Crusaders at the start of the regular 2020 Super Rugby season.
"We're expecting a fired-up team come Saturday," he said.
The fact they had lost 11 consecutive games was not a factor in the Crusaders' thinking.
"You can't look at that record. Any team in New Zealand on the day can certainly show up and put a performance in that can win on the day so with Sam Cane, Brad Weber, a list of All Blacks in their team as well as some young talent, we have to prepare appropriately so we're not leaving a stone unturned this week," he said.
Barrett said his locking partner Sam Whitelock's efforts in 2021 demonstrated his ability to motivate himself to produce consistent 80-minute efforts.
"It's a testament to the class that he is," he said.
"It's great to have Sam there, he could easily be leading this team. He's chipping away telling me stuff that I might not be seeing. It's all helping my decision-making as a player."
Barrett, who missed much of Super Rugby Aotearoa last season due to injury, had enjoyed being back and playing. But he now understood why players had been saying the competition was tough.
"[After] the first game I felt like I had played a full season of rugby I was that sore but I'm enjoying being back playing," he said.
"The record doesn't reflect the class they have got in their team and the calibre. We've been close so many times. It has got away on them. There's still that desperation in them, as there would be for any team in that situation. We are wary. We have been on the other end over the last four-five years. We are preparing accordingly.
Coach Scott Robertson backed Barrett's comments and said they hadn't talked about the Chiefs' predicament. They had been concentrating on themselves, that they get the first four games of the competition right and they get their rhythm.
"The boys play themselves into form and the results sort themselves out from there," he said.
Robertson named versatile back David Havili in the midfield against the Chiefs.
"He's an incredible utility back. He's been the best utility back in the world and our role is to give him the opportunities to play in different positions so he can play and perform, and put a black jersey on," he said.
Robertson said second five-eighths wasn't Havili's preferred position but when he got into the role and got rhythm he was an incredible performer.
"That's one of the things when you've got two great fullbacks, you make the call as a coach, you want your vice-captain on the field with Will Jordan so that's the decision for this week," he said.