There are few rivalries in Super Rugby that burn hotter than the one between the Blues and Crusaders.

The two powerhouses of New Zealand Rugby, The Blues and Crusaders hold between them 10 of the 14 Super Rugby titles. Head-to-head they have both won eight games a piece and in their 16 encounters only one point separates them, with the Crusaders having scored 383 points to the Blues’ 382.

The latest chapter of the Blues’ duel with the Crusaders will unfold on Saturday night in Christchurch as Pat Lam’s men look to score their first win at AMI Stadium since that famous 38-29 victory back in 2004.

It was mercurial first five-eighths Carlos Spencer who sparked the thrilling win over the Crusaders six years ago, but in his place tomorrow evening is former Crusader Stephen Brett who will be hoping he can replicate the magic of Spencer to sink his old teammates.

Draft pick Brett played three seasons with the Crusaders before moving north to escape the shadow Dan Carter and get more game time in order to push his case for national selection.

The 24-year-old is happy to dub himself the “apprentice” and Carter the “master” and he will certainly have a major point to prove in his first foray to Christchurch in a Blues jersey.

After a disappointing loss to the Hurricanes in round one of the Rebel Sport Super 14, the Blues bounced back to score consecutive victories over the Highlanders and Reds in recent weeks.

Lam said he was pleased with the way his team had improved after every round but said it would need to lift to another level on Saturday to defeat the Crusaders.

“As long as we keep improving and after every game we get a bit more confidence that’s the key,” Lam said.

“There are some things we can work on which we try and address every week and every game just gets bigger. But nothing comes bigger than the Crusaders in Christchurch,” he said.

“They got dusted up by the Reds and that put everyone on notice and they showed what sort of team they are against the Sharks last week. They’re a tough team to beat down there so certainly while we’ve done some good things so far this season, we won’t get away with that against the Crusaders so we’ve got to be right on our game.”

Tony Woodcock has been restored to the starting lineup to face the Crusaders after Lam relegated the 61-test All Black to the bench last week.

But the dropping of Woodcock proved to be his impetus as he produced a determined and impressive second half cameo to regain his starting position.

“He came on with 38 minutes to go and made nine out of nine tackles, had a huge work rate and a lot of aggression and we saw what Woody is really about which is pleasing so he deserves his starting spot in the team now,” he said.

Woodcock completes an All Black front row trio alongside John Afoa and Keven Mealamu in what promises to be a war of attrition up-front against a powerful Crusaders scrum featuring Wyatt Crockett, Corey Flynn and Owen Franks.

Rene Ranger also retains his position in the midfield after a brilliant performance at 13 against the Reds last week. 

Ranger, who filled in for the injured Isaia Toeava and Anthony Tuitavake, scored a try and threatened the Reds defence all evening, but he will face a far sterner challenge tomorrow against Robert Fruean.

“He’s certainly a free spirit but I take my hat off to the other backs and the guys that work with him and made him feel comfortable there," Lam said.

"That enabled him to stay in the system again and he’s making a good fist of it so it’s a good test for him down there.”