The sight of Dan Carter finally releasing the handbrake at training should result in him making his comeback for the Crusaders against the Lions in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Carter, who has not played since injuring his lower right leg in his side's opening loss to the Rebels in Christchurch on February 13, appears to have fully recovered from the problem that initially had some worrywarts fearing his final Super Rugby season could be blighted by long-term injury.
Unlike previous weeks, when the All Blacks veteran was clearly unable or unwilling to run at full pace, he easily put the foot down during a lively practice session and was able to change angles without discomfort.
Concerns that the 102-test great would remain sidelined for a long period fuelled debate over whether his 33-year-old body was going to let him down in World Cup year and allow Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade to stake claims for the playmaker berths.
If Carter starts against the Lions at AMI Stadium, he could run at either first five-eighth or second-five.
Slade, who has been at No 10 against the Chiefs and the Highlanders, could move back to fullback to replace Tom Taylor. That would allow Carter to start at first-five.
The other option is to keep Slade in the playmaker's job, tell Carter to play second-five and push Ryan Crotty to centre.
While fullback Israel Dagg's quadriceps tear will prevent him from playing the Lions - and he did not bother getting suited up for training on Tuesday - Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has the option of putting tighthead prop Owen Franks, wing Nemani Nadolo, lock Sam Whitelock, No 8 Kieran Read and Carter back into his run-on team.
"We will have a really good look at it," Blackadder said on whether they would be automatic selections.
"With those guys that have been out, it is probably easier for them to start.
Ad Feedback"There is a lot of pressure on those guys, too. They haven't played a lot of rugby lately and they have got to come into a team that is under pressure.
"What we need is the whole team to collectively perform a whole lot better than it has done in the previous game."
The Crusaders had the bye last weekend, giving them an extra week to ruminate on the 40-16 walloping by the Chiefs in Hamilton on February 28.
Although missing Franks, Nadolo, Whitelock, Read, Carter and Dagg, the Crusaders were in no position to use their absent stars as an excuse for the dreadful display at Waikato Stadium.
Blackadder remains perplexed by his team's inability to make fast starts to their season and knows a loss to the Lions, who upset the Blues in Albany last weekend, would be unacceptable.
It would leave the Crusaders with a 1-3 record and leave them languishing near the tail of the Super Rugby log, as well as the New Zealand conference.
Defeat could also see some of the heavy fire that has been reserved solely for Blues coach Sir John Kirwan this week be directed at Blackadder.
"There's always pressure in this job. It's rugby," Blackadder said.
"I take it that when people aren't happy with the way that we are playing that it is great. [It shows] that people care about us.
"We are not happy with the way we are playing, but you have to believe in what you are doing, and when you are under pressure you have to make sure you have got good people, that you trust the people around you and that you have a strategy.
"Because we didn't set out to put ourselves under pressure; but we are.
"One thing I do know about this environment is that we respond well under pressure, but actions speak louder than words."
