Fresh off a bye week, and the Crusaders are ready for a top of the table clash against the Chiefs at home.

Head Coach Rob Penney is expecting a tough battle on Saturday at Apollo Projects Stadium.

The Chiefs will be disappointed in their performance over the weekend, and they'll come here and want to be brutal, they're proud men and they'll come here determined," he says.

Penney and his coaching group have made seven changes to the starting lineup that faced the Highlanders two weeks ago in Dunedin.

Some changes are due to injury; including Taha Kemara who ruptured his ACL and Xavier Saifoloi who is nursing a knee injury.

Tamaiti Williams steps back into the starting prop position this week, alongside Codie Taylor at hooker and Fletcher Newell completes the front row.

Scott Barrett and Antonio Shalfoon are paired at lock, while Cullen Grace and Tom Christie will start in the flanker positions.

Christian Lio-Willie completes the forward pack at Number 8.

We'll see a new combination this week of Noah Hotham at halfback and Rivez Reihana in the number 10 jersey for his first start of the season.

"Rivez has been working really hard in the non-playing group while he's been recovering from injury and has been leading that team so when he came in it was seamless and we were really impressed with how he slotted in," says Penney.

"It's a great credit to the non-playing group; every week they set us up to play the best we can."

Sevu Reece is back on the left wing, with Chay Fihaki on the right wing.

Captain David Havili is at centre alongside Braydon Ennor who is making his long-awaited return from a hamstring injury.

And in a case of Deja Vu, Will Jordan is yet again starting at fullback.

"We're in a position where we are a master of our own destiny which is awesome but it's going to be a brutal weekend and we're going to try and capitalise on the opportunity we've got to get back on top of the table, but it won't be easy,"" says Penney.

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