The Crusaders remain optimistic that talisman Dan Carter will be fit for their historic Super 14 semifinal showdown with the Bulls at Soweto’s Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

Carter and prop Ben Franks are both on the “wait-and-see” list, suffering with ankle injury niggles in the team’s 40-22 victory over the Brumbies in Christchurch last week.

That victory earned them a return trip to South Africa – which saw them arrive in Johannesburg late on Monday night.

They had a light training run on Tuesday and will do most of their ‘hard’ work at Thursday’s practice session and Friday’s captain’s run at the Orlando Stadium.

On Wednesday morning, in a teleconference call from the team’s base in Johannesburg, backline coach Daryl Gibson confirmed that they are sweating over the fitness of Carter and one of the Franks brothers.

“They are both expected to be right,” Gibson said from the City of Gold, adding: “Apart from those two we’re in good shape.”

He said the medical staff will have a look at the duo at training on Thursday and Friday.

He said the long extended travelling schedule – they left New Zealand on Sunday, stopped over in Sydney for a day and only arrive in Johannesburg on Monday – meant that Tuesday’s training was “pretty light”.

“The camp is in very good spirits, we travelled well and we have a day off today [Wednesday],” he said in the teleconference call.

He said they haven’t encountered many Bulls fans in Johannesburg and have been unable to get a real feel for the atmosphere ahead of Saturday – the first ever rugby match at the famous soccer venue in Soweto.

“We are pretty isolated where we are in our hotel,” Gibson said, adding: “We will be going down to the ground on Friday to train there.

“It is a pretty new experience for both teams, playing in Soweto,” he said, adding that they are not planning any additional security.

“We’re travelling as normal when we come to South Africa.”