Say what you want about pre-season matches, new Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger will find plenty to like about his team's 42-26 win against the Crusaders on Thursday night.

Of course, he won't get carried away - not even after snatching the Farmlands Cup from the red and blacks in Waimumu - but a week out from his team's season opener against the Blues in Dunedin, the former Canterbury and Crusaders midfielder will be quietly chuffed.

His All Blacks got a thorough work out, Matt Faddes - given a chance to play centre with Richard Buckman (neck) injured - more than took his chance by scoring a hat-trick, and there were no injuries.

That's not to say there wasn't a scare.

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Highlanders fans had their hearts in their mouths midway through the first half, when pivot Lima Sopoaga went down after copping a blow to the knee and hobbling off the paddock.

DIANNE MANSON/GETTY Highlanders first-five Lima Sopoaga left the field with a leg injury in the first half, but was soon back playing.

However, Sopoaga, who missed much of last season with a hamstring injury, returned late in the first half and completed the game.

While Crusaders coach Scott Robertson capped his All Blacks' minutes at 40, Mauger played fullback and co-captain Ben Smith the entire 80 minutes, while Aaron Smith and Waisake Naholo weren't pulled until the 65-minute mark. Flanker Liam Squire was subbed at halftime but came back on in the second half after replacing Luke Whitelock.

Hooker Liam Coltman, playing his first game since injuring his ankle in last year's quarterfinal loss to the Crusaders, got through 50 minutes.

ROBYN EDIE/STUFF Highlanders centre Matt Faddes crashes over for one of his three tries against the Crusaders in Waimumu on Thursday.

"He's worked bloody hard over the last four or five months, he was stoked to get back on and he was at his niggly and annoying best, we're stoked for him," Highlanders assistant coach Mark Hammett said.

Robertson will know a pre-season result isn't worth a damn, and he'll be the first one to point out the most important thing was there were no notable injuries to any of his players ahead of their season opener against the Chiefs in Christchurch next Saturday night.

Pre-season or not, he wouldn't have liked his team conceding two tries in the first 10 minutes, or the fact the reigning champions let Faddes score twice from set piece plays late in the first half.

DIANNE MANSON/GETTY IMAGES Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith launches a box kick during his team's pre-season game against the Crusaders in Waimumu on Thursday.

But, after Faddes picked off a loose pass and raced 40 metres to open the scoring, and after lock Jackson Hemopo touched down to give the Highlanders a 14-0 lead, Robertson and assistant forwards coach Jason Ryan would have liked what happened next.

Shocked into action, the Crusaders' pack, without injured All Blacks props Owen Franks (Achilles) and Joe Moody (shoulder), and No 8 Kieran Read (back), bulldozed the Highlanders' scrum and were awarded a penalty try.

Halfback Bryn Hall and prop Wyatt Crockett then finished off midfield breaks to give the visitors a 19-12 lead, before Faddes' double-strike gave the Highlanders a 28-19 lead at halftime.

DIANNE MANSON/GETTY Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall scored his team's second try in Waimumu on Thursday.

Rookie Crusaders wing Braydon Ennor combined with Mitch Hunt to pull the Christchurch-based franchise to within two points 15 minutes into the second half, but the Highlanders sealed the pre-season silverware courtesy of a penalty try (collapsed maul) and Tei Walden try in the waning minutes.

"I actually think both teams will be happy with it," Hammett said post-match. "Mainly around the physicality, it was pretty high around the last pre-season game . . . both teams will get a lot out of it.

"But we'll be no different to every other Super team. You're not at the point you want to be at, that's always going to be two or three weeks into the competition."

DIANNE MANSON/GETTY Crusaders fullback David Havili looks to swing the ball wide in his team's pre-season match against the Highlanders in Waimumu on Thursday.

AT A GLANCE

Highlanders 42 (Matt Faddes 3, Jackson Hemopo, pen try, Tei Walden tries; Lima Sopoaga 3 con, Fletcher Smith 2 con) Crusaders 26 (pen try, Bryn Hall, Wyatt Crockett, Braydon Ennor tries; Richie Mo'unga con, Mitchell Hunt con). HT: 28-19