Hatchets will be swinging around the Crusaders selection table as Kieran Read and Colin Slade return to confront the Blues.



Last Friday night's 18-10 loss to the Chiefs is certain to result in Tyler Bleyendaal's scalp but it is how coach Todd Blackadder re-jigs the rest of his team that remains a mystery.



Captain and No 8 Read was rested from the Super Rugby opener but certain to start at Eden Park on Friday night, meaning Luke Whitelock must make way for the All Blacks star.



The other selections are less clear-cut.



Yesterday, Blackadder said he was content with blindside flanker George Whitelock's efforts before he was replaced by Matt Todd in the 55th minute, but may still be tempted to revamp his back row to allow the latter to start at No 7.



Todd, admittedly against a tiring defence, several times motored through holes to turn the Chiefs defence around and remains a handy fetcher at the breakdown.



If Todd starts against the Blues it would require Richie McCaw to shift to the less-preferred blindside role, something he did in the final 25 minutes against the Chiefs, and Whitelock to go the bench.



"There's a few selection headaches that we have got because everyone is playing well. George, in the time he was out there, actually played really well," Blackadder said.



"But certainly Matt Todd, when he came on, and really made a huge impact. There will be some hard calls."



George Whitelock's running game was also hot in the first spell but he was yellow-carded after halftime when he elected for a professional foul rather than take the risk of letting the Chiefs' recycle the ball quickly.



One thing is certain: Blackadder, who must be bitterly disappointed his side squandered their 20-month unbeaten streak in Christchurch, has to send a message about individual accountability following a display full of poor goal kicking, inaccurate passing and clumsy handling.



With first five-eighth Bleyendaal, who missed all five penalty attempts before being replaced by Tom Taylor at halftime, certain to be demoted Blackadder has to decide whether to run Slade or Taylor at No 10 in the absence of Dan Carter who is on sabbatical.



Although centre Reynold Lee-Lo was solid against the Chiefs, there must be a temptation to shift Ryan Crotty to centre to allow All Blacks team-mate Taylor to start at No 12.



The duo could straighten the attack and build a combination that could see the backline reproduce some of the form seen last last season.



Crusaders wings Johnny McNicholl and Nafi Tuitavake were a mixed bag but it remains to be seen whether Zac Guildford, who played for the academy side, has the coaches' faith.



McNicholl missed the first tackle that led to Robbie Fruean scoring his try but redeemed himself with a try-saving hit on Aaron Cruden in the corner.



Read's ability to create mayhem, either with a big defensive hit or by running hard at the line, will be welcomed at Eden Park.



The challenge for his team-mates is to execute the simple things correctly.



"Goal kicking aside, we still had enough opportunities in the score-zone," Blackadder acknowledged. "We were in the right part of the field but just didn't put on enough pressure because of individual errors.



"We just can't afford to let teams off the hook."