All Blacks Keven Mealamu and Rene Ranger will make their impact off the bench when the Blues’ Super Rugby campaign resumes against the Sharks at King’s Park in Durban early on Sunday (NZT).

The duo arrived late in the republic after All Blacks duty, but Blues coach Sir John Kirwan says any disruption has been mitigated by the enthusiasm they’ve brought into camp.

“It was really important that these guys got home after they’d been with the All Blacks, so today will be our first training run together since the players left,” he said.

“It’s probably not the most ideal preparation, but we’ve planned for it and we understood how it was going to be. The boys are really excited and refreshed so that has compensated for it.”

The Blues are sitting eighth on the Super Rugby ladder with three games remaining, making the Sharks’ clash a must-win match if they are to have any chance of making the playoffs.

Kirwan said his side was embracing the knock-out nature of this game.

“It’s a Test match for us and the players are very excited about it. It feels a little bit like the beginning of the season for us and hopefully the game will be a little bit like that.

Blues: Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, Jackson Willison, Francis Saili, George Moala, Chris Noakes, Piri Weepu, Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Steven Luatua, Ali Williams (captain), Anthony Boric, Angus Ta’avao, James Parsons, Tim Perry. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Kane Barrett/Culum Retallick, Brendon O’Connor, Jamison Gibson-Park, Baden Kerr, Rene Ranger.