High-flying Crusaders march on

Super Rugby Pacific Hurricanes v Force

HBF Park, Perth; midnight

What: Who: Where, when:

Force:

tonight

Jake McIntyre, Toni Pulu, Bryon Ralston, Richard Kahui, Manasa Mataele, Reesjan Pasitoa, Ian Prior, Jackson Pugh, Tim Anstee, Fergus Lee-Warner, Jeremy Thrush, Ryan McCauley, Santiago Medrano, Andrew Ready, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Feleti Kaitu’u, AngusWagner, Bo Abra, Izack Rodda, Jack Winchester, Michael McDonald, Kyle Godwin, Brad Lacey.

Hurricanes:

Josh Moorby, Wes Goosen, Bailyn Sullivan, Billy Proctor, Salesi Rayasi, Aidan Morgan, TJ Perenara (c), Brayden Iose, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Caleb Delany, Justin Sangster, James Blackwell, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Pouri Rateke-Stones. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tevita Mafileo, Blake Gibson, Ardie Savea, Jamie Booth, Jackson Garden-Bachop, TeihorangiWalden.

The 23-year-old’s return is a welcome boost for the Hurricanes, who have been hit hard by illness, with coach Jason Holland, Jordie Barrett and Ruben Love unable to make the trip after being struck down with the flu.

Iose will be part of a new-look loose forward trio featuring Caleb Delany at blindside and Du’Plessis Kirifi at openside, with returning captain Ardie Savea set to provide impact off the bench in the second half.

‘‘When you get a player of Brayden’s class and quality back into your squad it’s a good thing,’’ said assistant coach Chris Gibbes, who will take the helm with Holland back in New Zealand.

‘‘I’ve got to keep stressing there’s good competition in these positions. Devan [Flanders] is not far away, Reed Prinsep is not far away, so at the end of the season we’re starting to get guys back from long-term injuries, which is great.’’

Iose said he was delighted he could make it back before the end of the season, giving him a chance to put his hand up for a quarterfinal next weekend.

‘‘It’s been quite an interesting process,’’ he said. ‘‘I was told by the surgeon at the start that it would be five months but it’s been eight weeks.’’

So how did he manage to fast-track his recovery and turn a five-month injury into a two-month one?

‘‘It’s a combination of things. Just the work that the S&C [strength and conditioning coach] and the physios have been putting in and having clear targets that we were going to hit.

‘‘I was given this ultra-soundmachine that I put on my wrist every day and it was up in the air whether or not it would help, but I feel like it’s been beneficial to my healing and since I’ve got my cast off the therapy that I’ve been getting has been really good,’’ Iose said.

The Hurricanes head into the final round with a spot in the quarterfinals already secured, but will still have something to play for if another result goes their way.

If the Fijian Drua can upset the Chiefs in Lautoka this afternoon, the Hurricanes will have a chance to break into the top four if they beat the Force, who must win to have any hope of playing finals rugby.

The Hurricanes sit fifth on 38 points, three points below the Chiefs. They can