All Black star Kieran Read will lead the Crusaders when the seven-time champions start their 2012 Super Rugby campaign against the Blues in Auckland on Friday.

Coming off a successful pre-season - where they knocked off the Highlanders, Hurricanes and Rebels - the Crusaders will be looking to continue their winning streak as they play the three-time champion Blues in the opening match of the new season.

Four changes have been made to the starting fifteen that met the Rebels last week:

Wyatt Crockett comes into the No.1 jersey, and Ben Franks moves from loosehead prop to tighthead prop in place of brother Owen, who will sit on the bench.

Sam Whitelock and Tom Donnelly remain the starting locks, but switch jerseys. They will be backed up by Luke Romano on the bench.

Robbie Fruean returns to outside centre and Ryan Crotty has recovered from a hamstring strain to start at inside centre. Adam Whitelock and Tom Taylor who have filled this position in the last two warm-up games are both named in the reserves.

Crusaders: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Israel Dagg, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Tom Donnelly, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Quentin MacDonald, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willie Heinz, 21 Patrick Osborne, 22 Adam Whitelock.

Date: Friday, February 24
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (06.35 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)