Dan Carter plays his 100th Super Rugby match for the Crusaders on Saturday against the same opposition he debuted against nine years ago.

The difference this time is that Carter will be away from home when he lines up against the Hurricanes.

The ninth-round clash at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium is vital for both teams as the competition reaches the halfway mark.

The Hurricanes are the third-placed New Zealand conference team, two points ahead of the Crusaders, and both sides desperately need the win to keep themselves in contact with the Chiefs and the Highlanders.

Carter is hoping for a similar result against the Hurricanes to his debut in Christchurch in 2003 when he scored two of the Crusaders’ five tries in their 37-21 win.

“I remember us winning that match pretty well and I scored a couple of tries. It would be nice to do that again, but I’d be just as happy if we won – that’s the biggest priority,” Carter said after the Crusaders’ final training session on Thursday.

“I’m really proud of reaching 100 games for the Crusaders, a team I’m really passionate about.”

One of the highlights should be the midfield contest where Carter and powerful centre Robbie Fruean clash with former Crusader Tim Bateman and Hurricanes’ captain Conrad Smith.

“Timmy and Conrad are fantastic readers of the game. They’ve got great rugby knowledge and they know when to attack and when to apply pressure, and both defend extremely well.

“They’re not the biggest guys, but they always put their body and heart on the line,” Carter said.

History favours the Crusaders, who have won 14 and drawn two of their 20 clashes.

The only change to the Crusaders’ team which downed the previously-unbeaten Stormers 31-24 in Christchurch last Saturday is on the right wing, where Adam Whitelock replaces Sean Maitland, who is nursing an ankle strain.