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The Crusaders have done a good job limiting Beauden Barrett's time and space in previous matches against the Hurricanes.
Ronan O'Gara doesn't care how good Hurricanes pivot Beauden Barrett is.
For the record, the Crusaders' assistant coach thinks he's a superstar deserving of being the All Blacks' first-choice No 10, but that guarantees nothing ahead of Saturday night's semifinal in Christchurch.
Because O'Gara knows the back-to-back champions have done a heck of a job limiting his influence in recent clashes, including the Crusaders' 30-8 win in Wellington earlier this year, and last year's 30-12 semifinal triumph in Christchurch.
"If you win collisions, if you win the gain line, no matter how good you are as a 10, your time is diminished significantly. And our boys have done a great job in that regard in previous campaigns," O'Gara said.
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Crusaders assistant coach Ronan O'Gara, middle, and a group of players at the team's training session on Tuesday morning.
"But when the ball is in Beauden Barrett's hands, it's not a good sign for any opposition."
The red and blacks have won four of the last five matches between the teams when both pivots lined up.
Space and time is certainly something Barrett didn't have much of in Wellington in March, when he threw intercept passes to Crusaders flanker Whetukamokamo Douglas, which led to a David Havili try, and wing Sevu Reece.
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Crusaders wing Sevu Reece pictured kicking during the team's training session in Christchurch on Tuesday morning.
But he was very good against the Bulls last weekend, and the Crusaders are digging deep in their preparation for a team which is no doubt playing it's best rugby of the season when it matters.
"He's a world class player, simple as that, and they've got quite a few of them across the park. They've got quality game-breakers, x-factor right across the park. So that creates a bit of edge around the way you prepare, as well," Crusaders midfielder Ryan Crotty said.
"We're always diligent when we prepare for these guys because we know just how dangerous they are. That's what a lot of this morning was about - getting our game plan and our plays, getting our clarity on that and also making sure we're prepared for what's coming."
Loosehead prop Tim Perry is the only Crusader with an injury cloud hanging over his head.
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Crusaders prop Tim Perry played a limited part in training on Tuesday, after being scratched ahead of last week's game against the Highlanders.
O'Gara said the 30-year-old, who is scheduled to have his left-arm scanned this week, experienced pain on Monday, but stopped short of ruling him out of the semifinal, which will be refereed by Australian Nic Berry.
The Crusaders didn't call last weekend's game a quarterfinal, and they're not labelling Saturday night's game against the Hurricanes a semifinal.
To the nine-times champions, they're finals, and preparing for the last visiting team to win in Christchurch - in 2016 - is where their focus lies.
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Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson will name his team to play the Hurricanes on Thursday.
"There's a lot of champion mindsets here with Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock, so that's a big advantage for us," O'Gara said.
"[The Hurricanes] are really interesting because they have strengths all over the place, they have such talented individuals that you give them time and space and you're going to be under your posts.
"They have such quality around the park that you would be foolish to focus on one or two, because if you do that they will rip you somewhere else."
