Competition heavyweights the Crusaders have praised the NSW Waratahs as the team to beat in Super Rugby ahead of their clash in Nelson on Friday night.

The Waratahs are the only side to have collected maximum points from the opening two rounds of the competition and didn't concede a try in their thrashings of Melbourne and Queensland.

All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett said the strength and form of the Waratahs has helped the Crusaders refocus on football as they prepare to resume competition in the wake of the horrific earthquake in hometown Christchurch.

The Crusaders have spoken at length during the week about dedicating the match to the victims of the earthquake, as well as the families of last year's Pike Creek mine tragedy - who they will honour with a commemorative jersey.

Given the raw passion the Crusaders will take into the match and with Berrick Barnes out and skipper Phil Waugh playing hurt, the Waratahs are in for a mighty battle against an All Blacks-stacked side.

But Crockett said while playing with emotion was the team's duty, they must push feelings from their minds and concentrate on rugby.

And he believes the Crusaders will have their work cut out.

"I'd have to say they (NSW) are probably the form team," Crockett said on Wednesday.

"Their forward pack has been doing a really good job for them getting some good quality ball and obviously out wide they've got a lot of class.

"Guys like Drew Mitchell is in good form and Kurtley Beale, those guys will cut teams apart if you let them.

"They've got threats right across the park ... as a forward pack it's our challenge to match their intensity up front and try and give it to them up there."

Christchurch-born Crockett said he and his team-mates appreciated having last week off - their scheduled clash with the Hurricanes cancelled - to spend time helping family and friends get through the ordeal.

They came back to training busting to get out and play this Friday and Crockett said the challenge was to achieve a balance.

"For us the earthquake's happened and there's nothing really we can do," he said.

"The only thing we can do for our fans is put in a good performance and hopefully that'll lift a few spirits back home in Christchurch.

"But to do that, I know it's hard, but we've got to put that out of our mind and just focus on playing footy."

NSW got off to a faultless start against the Reds last Saturday and coach Chris Hickey admits a strong opening 20 minutes could help take the wind out of the Crusaders.

However, Hickey is preparing for the match to go down to the wire.

"You'd like to get away to that start every week but it's a different opposition this week and it's a big challenge against them," said Hickey.

"It's not a game that's going to be won in the first 20 minutes, it's a game that's going to require patience."

Crockett also said former league star Sonny Bill Williams was familiar with the Crusaders' set-up and was ready to fire in his Super Rugby debut.

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