CLEANOUT: Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has made nine chages to his side for their match against the Lions.

Coach Todd Blackadder has made nine positional changes as he attempts to get the Crusaders' Super Rugby season back on track with a win over the Lions in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon.

Blackadder was deeply disappointed after his side's 40-16 loss to the Chiefs on February 28 and has reacted by rushing his top players into the starting side.

The Crusaders, who had the bye last weekend, have a 1-2 record and sit second last on the competition log on just four points. The embattled Blues are last on three points.

No 8 Kieran Read, who missed the competition's opening three games, has been immediately reinstated as captain in place of Matt Todd.

Fellow All Black Sam Whitelock, who like Read was on an extended summer break, has been named in the second row.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will start at openside flanker because Todd has been rotated out of the match-day 23.

Todd, who played all three preseason games and the first three rounds of the competition, is expected to play against the Cheetahs the following weekend.

With McCaw shifting from No 6, Jordan Taufua will get his first run-on start of the year on the side of the scrum. He played at No 8 against the Chiefs.

Tighthead prop Owen Franks returns from a two-week suspension to complete the extensive revamp of the forward pack.

Halfback Andy Ellis, who made his first appearance of the season off the bench against the Chiefs, returns to the side, and Dan Carter, who has not played since injuring his lower right leg against the Rebels on February 13, has been listed at second five-eighth.

The selection of Carter has resulted in Ryan Crotty shifting to centre in place of Kieron Fonotia.

Nemani Nadolo, who like Ellis had to complete his playing duties in Japan before joining the franchise late last month, will start on the left wing, which has been vacated by the injured Robbie Fruean.

Crusaders - Tom Taylor, Johnny McNicholl, Ryan Crotty, Dan Carter, Nemani Nadolo, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (c), Richie McCaw, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Joe Moody, Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Luke Whitelock, Mitchell Drummond, Kieron Fonotia, David Havili.

Lions - Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Sampie Mastriet, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Warren Whiteley (c), Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel, Martin Muller, Franco Mostert, Julian Redelinghuys, Robbie Coetzee, Corne Fourie. Reserves: Armand van der Merwe, Jacques van Rooyen, Ruan Dreyer, Andries Ferreira, Derick Minnie, Faf de Klerk, Marnitz Boshoff, Howard Mnisi.