Blues face Crusaders test as Super Rugby playoffs race heats up

MELBOURNE, May 7 : The Auckland Blues will look to prove they are the real deal in Super Rugby Pacific on a tough road trip to the Canterbury Crusaders, while Australia's underperforming sides scrap to keep in touch with the playoffs positions.

The second-placed Blues have lost 19 of their last 20 matches away to the Crusaders and will throw something different at Rob Penney's team when they meet the defending champions at the new Te Kaha stadium on Friday.

Blues coach Vern Cotter has opted to keep Beauden Barrett on the bench following Stephen Perofeta's successful return in the number 10 jersey in their thumping 45-19 win over Moana Pasifika last weekend.

"(I have) a bit more confidence as to how my body is and where my mind is," former All Black Perofeta, who has suffered an injury-blighted season, told reporters after a big shift against Moana.

"Getting through that 65-odd minutes was reassurance for me that I can still enjoy it ... This week's been a lot the same around building that confidence."

The Blues beat the Crusaders 29-13 at Eden Park earlier in the season but Cotter is drawing little comfort from that win.

"You never get the same picture twice against the Crusaders, especially down in Christchurch," he said.

"They’re a side that pride themselves on their physicality and accuracy, and our focus has been on staying connected to ensure we are at our best for the full 80 minutes."

Veteran prop George Bower is in line for his 100th match for the fifth-placed Crusaders, who have three games left in the regular season to shore up their title defence.

The fourth-placed Queensland Reds, who host the Waikato Chiefs at Lang Park on Friday, are level with the Crusaders on 27 points but have played one game fewer.

Carter