All Blacks Ma'a Nonu and John Schwalger return and the Hurricanes have also taken the insurance of naming two fullbacks for their clash with the Crusaders in Wellington on Friday night.

Shannon Paku has kept his place on the wing despite the return of Nonu, with Hosea Gear dropping to the bench for the first time this year.

Coach Colin Cooper said Paku's experience at fullback and superior kicking game to Gear's was important as the Crusaders would play for territory at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

"Hosea's played really well, but [is] probably similar to how Ma'a plays so we thought we'd make the change," Cooper said.

The Crusaders have kicked more than any other team in the Super 14 except the Cheetahs, reeling off 5893m this season compared to the Hurricanes' 3740m.

On the surface that would suggest the Hurricanes will be fed a steady diet of ball to counterattack with, but as Cooper acknowledged, the Crusaders are also formidable defenders.

"They will kick and they chase really well, so we have to be really smart in what we do with the ball. Is that run it, move it or kick it? We've got options there, but the fact is their defence is really good and they win the territory game in all their games."

The Crusaders are also no slouches with the ball. They have run it 3902m, compared with the Hurricanes' 2707m and scored 31 tries compared with the Hurricanes' 14. The Crusaders are also stingy on defence, having let in just 60 points.

It is little wonder they are unbeaten, but the Hurricanes have not lost since their opening defeat to the Waratahs and were in vintage form in the second half against the Brumbies as they dished out a record 33-15 defeat in Canberra.

Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has lost only once to the Cooper-coached Hurricanes, but he is a master at talking up the opposition and was in full flight as he detailed the threat the Hurricanes posed.

"It's going to be a major challenge - the toughest we've had to date," Deans said after making just one change to the side that beat the Waratahs 34-7 last week, with Leon MacDonald back at fullback.

"Obviously they've got a great ability to finish and to create line breaks," Deans said.

"A big part of our focus will be being accurate in the tackle, because they tend to sting you if you give them that sort of leeway."

Cooper helped Deans coach the Crusaders in their unbeaten season in 2002, but has not secured a win against them since 2004. Since then the Hurricanes have lost three round-robin matches, the 2005 semifinal and the 2006 final.

Cooper was upbeat about breaking that record tomorrow. "We've got the players to line-break but we've got to score and that will start at set piece and getting good control."

HURRICANES: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Ma'a Nonu, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Tamati Ellison, 11 Shannon Paku, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So'oialo (c), 7 Chris Masoe, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Neemia Tialata 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger. Reserves: 16 Hikawera Elliot, 17 Tim Fairbrother, 18 Jeremy Thrush, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 22 Hosea Gear.