Deans: Crusaders won't be complacent

Robbie Deans believes there is little chance of his Crusaders team being complacent when they take on the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Saturday night.

The Crusaders secured a home Super 14 semi-final thanks to an 18-10 win against the Sharks and the New South Wales Waratahs' 16-13 loss to the Bulls last week and should account for the 11th-placed Reds despite the Queenslanders improved showing against the Blues.

But Deans, who will become coach of Australia at the end of the Super 14, said his side had not been distracted by any thought of the play-offs.

"The guys have played enough rugby to know that you are only as good as your next outing," he told PA Sport.

A ferocious defence has been one of the key factors for the Crusaders this season. They have conceded just 129 points so far and scored 328 with their only blip an 18-5 loss to the Chiefs three weeks ago.

"It (defence) has always been a priority for the sake that if you get that right you've got to score less to get home," Deans said.

"But you can't neglect any section of the game really or you get stung and we had a recent example of that. It's not something we are in a hurry to repeat."

The Crusaders welcome back Daniel Carter for the match at Suncorp Stadium. The world-class pivot will start from the bench as Deans looks to ease his star playmaker back after an ankle injury.

Deans has also opted to rest some of his regular starters with the semi-finals looming.

Scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i, number eight Mose Tuiali'i, lock Ross Filipo, hooker Ti'i Paulo and prop Wyatt Crockett have been elevated to the starting line-up with regular starters Andrew Ellis, Ali Williams, Corey Flynn and Ben Franks on the bench.

The Reds have been boosted by the return of their classy full-back Chris Latham.

Latham is one of three changes to the Reds side after overcoming a knee ligament strain that has sidelined him for the last month.

Goal kicker Clinton Schifcofske moves to the wing to make room for Latham, forcing Digby Ioane back to the bench and Brando Va'aulu out of the 22.

With former skipper John Roe out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, versatile loose forward Tasi Luafutu has replaced Scott Higginbotham at blindside flanker.

Teenage prop Ben Daley, the son of former Kangaroos rugby league front rower Phil Daley, is set to make his Super 14 debut off the bench following the one-week suspension of Rodney Blake who was found guilty of a dangerous tackle on Blues flanker Daniel Braid.

Daley is relishing the chance to take on the Crusaders.

"The Crusaders are the pinnacle of the Super 14 at the moment. It's a tremendous experience for me and a great opportunity to be pitted against the best players in the world in some positions," he told the Queensland Reds website.

"I think if you go into the game scared then you're not going to play very well. It's an exciting time, you've got to embrace it, embrace the opportunity and just go out there and give it everything you've got."

Crusaders: Leon MacDonald; Kade Poki, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Sean Maitland; Stephen Brett, Kahn Fotuali'i; Wyatt Crockett, Ti'i Paulo, Greg Somerville, Brad Thorn, Ross Filipo, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Mose Tuiali'i. Reserves: Corey Flynn, Ben