Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder says that he wants his team to “unleash” in the Super Rugby finals which start for them on Saturday against the Sharks in Nelson.

It’s remarkable that the Crusaders are even in the Super Rugby play offs given what they have been through this season.

All of their home matches have been played away after they lost their home ground in the Christchurch earthquake and then in the middle of the season they were hit with extensive injuries.

Despite all of their obstacles the Crusaders won the New Zealand conference and won 11 of their 16 matches with a draw and four defeats in the extended season.

In preparation for their clash with the Sharks this weekend Blackadder wants his players to be “fresh, fit and determined”.

Asked what the week was about, workhorse loose forward George Whitelock, who has started every game this season, made it clear that the coach’s words had been heeded.

“It’s about doing our basics well,” he said.

“The last couple of years we’ve got to these big games and haven’t really fronted in terms of executing our basics.”

“We let the Bulls get away in our last two semifinals and it changed the game.”

“We’ve really got to do the basics and nail that so we get in a good position.

“Everyone was very happy with our defence at the weekend, so we’ve got to carry that into the finals and just really minimise our penalties.

“The more penalties you give away, the more opportunities they can score.”

“Keeping them to the lowest amount possible is the main focus.”

Whitelock said that after the last few weeks of grinding rugby they were hoping that they would be able to play a more flowing game this weekend.

“The last couple of weeks we have won quite close grind-out games,” said Whitelock.

“We have talked a lot about getting into those positions and really finishing teams off. ”

“We feel we can really step it up a few gears and bring a new game. ”

“We’ve had the bye two weeks ago and then we’ve had two wet games. ”

“Sure, they’ve been physically taxing but they haven’t been high running volume games. So going into the finals it’s going to be quite good.”

The Crusaders are big favourites to win their knock out clash as no South African team has won a finals game in New Zealand and the Crusaders have never lost a home playoff match but they won’t be taking the Sharks lightly.

“They’ve really got their tails up the last few weeks and are going well,” added Whitelock.

“They’re a completely different side than when we played them at Twickenham.

“They’re big ball-carriers with the ball in hand, and getting over that gain-line is what they feed off. So we’re going to have to get up and really match them.”

Whitelock said that the team were still feeling the effects of a bruising encounter against the Hurricanes and that they wanted to get the recovery process right before adding the sharper edge later in the week.

“The last couple of weeks the grounds have been quite heavy and we’ve just got to make sure we nail that recovery so we’re in the best possible nick for Saturday night.”

The Crusaders could be boosted by the return of Sonny Bill Williams, Kahn Fotuali’i and, possibly, Sean Maitland but Whitelock says the focus is on making the most of it.

“We’ve got to make the most of it, because if we don’t won’t be playing the following week,” said Whitelock.