If the Cheetahs were hoping for some charity in Christchurch this week, their best bet might be to take their guitars to Cathedral Square and do some busking.

Because even with a road trip to Perth, Cape Town and Pretoria looming, Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder is unlikely to offer the struggling Cheetahs a break by making wholesale changes for the Super 14 match at AMI Stadium on Saturday night. Instead, he indicated he would keep the heart of his side intact to gel combinations and generate more confidence, especially in their ability to attack out wide.

Even with the Cheetahs suffering a 61-15 belting by the Brumbies in Canberra at the weekend, Blackadder is wary of shelving too many men ahead of the overseas tour. He wants to shift his offence out of second gear following their 20-13 win over the Waratahs on Saturday night.

The last time he made a raft of changes to freshen tired players, against the hapless Lions in round six, the strategy did not prove a massive success. Although they trounced the Lions, the Crusaders produced a disjointed effort and the backline has struggled for continuity in the matches against the Hurricanes and Waratahs.

Blackadder also has injuries to take into consideration, with Andy Ellis, who missed the Waratahs match with concussion, being joined by Kieran Read (shoulder) and Thomas Waldrom (ankle) on the list of those under observation.

“I’m in two minds about making changes. Some guys need to keep gaining confidence and we need to work on gaining an attacking edge,” Blackadder said. “I still think we have to add more of an attacking dimension to our game and play with more width.”

His comments indicate a similar backline will be retained as the Crusaders go hunting a vital four-try bonus point against a Cheetahs side that has won just two matches – against the Sharks and Hurricanes – and is without their Springboks breakdown terrier Heinrich Brussow because of injury. Boks team-mate and fellow loosie Juan Smith missed the Brumbies match, having returned to South Africa after the death of his father, but will be back.

And big No 8 Kabamba Floors has been banned for five weeks for a dangerous tackle from their heavy loss in Canberra.

With first five-eighth Dan Carter still playing below his best, the Crusaders backline is operating below expectations and little was seen of their main attacking weapon, left wing Zac Guildford, against the ‘Tahs.

On the opposite wing, Sean Maitland showcased his knack of breezing through defences, although his ability to connect with his support players continues to frustrate.

If Blackadder was to make changes out wide, he has the option of bringing Jared Payne in or he could switch fullback Colin Slade on to the right wing.

Along with their defence, the Crusaders scrum was one of the highlights, with loosehead Wyatt Crockett having the better of veteran Al Baxter and proving much more industrious around the field. Crockett executed 16 tackles against the Waratahs before being hooked in the 54th minute.

“I had felt in the last couple of weeks I had been a little bit flat,” Crockett said. “When you see guys around you having big games, you know when you have had a quiet couple of weeks.”

There was also the rare sight of tighthead prop Owen Franks being replaced by his older brother, Ben, in the 36th minute, although Blackadder stated it was because Owen was still physically tender following the fixture against the Hurricanes.