The NSW Waratahs have highlighted the enormity of the challenge they face against the Crusaders on Saturday, likening Super Rugby's record-setting back-to-back champions to the all-conquering All Blacks.
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The Crusaders are riding high on a record 19-match winning streak, but Waratahs flanker Jack Dempsey stopped short of declaring his side's next opponents intimidating.
Even after resting All Blacks skipper Kieran Reid, among others, the Crusaders will field nine All Blacks in their starting XV at the SCG.
Dempsey knows that only a complete performance will be enough to stop the Crusaders, especially in the rampant titleholders' first match since last week's Christchurch tragedy.
"These guys are back-to-back champions, they're undefeated at the moment," Dempsey said at the Waratahs' captain's run.
"It's a bit like playing the All Blacks on the Test scene; you get to measure yourself against the best of the best.
"They've had an emotional week behind them also, so we know that we're going to have to put our best foot forward.
"We've done that this week with our prep. It's probably been our best week of prep, to be honest.
"But, at the end of the day, that means nothing if we don't show up tomorrow night."
The match will also be the Waratahs' first at the venue since the turf was destroyed during their win over over the Queensland Reds a fortnight ago.
The surface has since undergone $350,000 worth of repairs, with the SCG Trust and NSW officials confident the ground will hold up to the test of more two-tonne set pieces.
Whether by edict or otherwise, the Waratahs didn't practice any scrums on Friday, with the official line being they completed enough during Thursday's training session.
"We've done a lot of scrum focus this week," Dempsey said.
"Very comfortable with how we're sitting there. We'll continue to build on that every week."
Asked if he was confident the pitch would hold up, as it did during last week's NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney, Dempsey was non-committal.
"From what we've been told, they've dug it all up and resurfaced it and re-topped it. Sounds good," he said.
"But we'll find out on game day.
"We're not too worried about it, to be honest."
Should the Waratahs lose, they will fall to two-from-five this campaign. The 2014 champions have never made the finals from such a start to a season.
Australian Associated Press
