Young gun Colin Slade has beaten highly-regarded Stephen Brett to the key five-eighth role for Super 14 champions the Crusaders in their first round clash with the Chiefs.

The 21-year-old has huge boots to fill in Christchurch on Saturday, succeeding All Blacks maestro Dan Carter who opted out of the 2009 Super 14 to play in France before being struck down with injury.

Recurring shoulder and leg injuries limited Brett, who has chalked up 25 Super appearances over three years, to just five games in Canterbury's national championship campaign last season.

Slade, 21, stepped up to the mark, playing all 13 games and impressing with his ability to kick off both feet and with his acceleration through the half gaps.

However, it was expected that Brett, who has been tipped to become an All Black, would assume the role vacated by Carter.

New Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder said Slade had impressed in the pre-season training and matches.

"He had a great NPC and Stevie's just coming back from injury. We thought that with his limited preparation for this game the better choice was Colin Slade.

"He seems to have grown stronger and stronger with every campaign," Blackadder said.

Slade said his hard work in the off-season had paid dividends, but he had not expected to be the starting five-eighth.

"I will take it though. I've been training pretty well and obviously Stevie has had his injuries and just joined us after Christmas.

"It's a very big moment for me and I've been looking forward to it ever since being named in the team."

Slade said his main focus would be on his own game rather than what his All Blacks opposite, Stephen Donald, was doing.

"I'll go about my individual stuff and it will be a good experience to play against someone of his class. Whatever I can gain from that will be good."

Otherwise Blackadder has named a predictable starting 15 for the first-up assignment against a team which has beaten the Super 14 champions in their last two encounters.

He said striking the Chiefs first up presented a "great challenge" but he stopped short of tagging the visitors as a jinx team for the Crusaders.

"Everyone is aware they've beaten us the last couple of times but I don't think they're a bogey team. They played really well and deserved their victories."

Having seen videos of the Chiefs' three pre-season wins over the other New Zealand franchises, Blackadder believed the Chiefs were "bigger, better and stronger" and he was impressed with the form of returning Brendon Leonard in the 38-24 win against the Hurricanes in Gisborne.

It was the All Blacks halfback's first outing in almost eight months after a knee injury.

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