Highlanders Coach, Tony Brown says they are confident the team is better prepared to face the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Brown says they are a lot stronger in the outside backs, and the loose forwards are really strong.
The Highlanders won 35-12 over the Hurricanes and lost 28-26 to the Crusaders in the pre-season matches.
The Highlanders will have players like Jona Nareki, Vilimoni Koroi, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Shannon Frizell, James Lentjes, Liam Squire, Liam Coltman, Aaron Smith, Josh Ioane, Mitchell Hunt and Ash Dixon.
The Highlanders will face the Crusaders at 6.05 pm Friday while the Blues will take on the Hurricanes at 6.05 pm Saturday.
[Source: super rugby.co.nz]
