Mercurial pivot James O’Connor and rugged loose forward Scott Higginbotham have been targeted as danger men by the Crusaders ahead of their Super Rugby match against the Melbourne Rebels in Christchurch on Sunday.

Boasting the greatest Super Rugby history of any team, the Crusaders have struggled this season in the absence of key players and sit fourth of the five New Zealand conference teams and ninth overall so they can ill-afford to lose to the 12th-placed Rebels.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder on Friday nominated Connor and Higginbotham as key players for the Rebels who would need to be closely watched.

“Whenever the Rebels play well, it’s usually because those two guys are playing really, really well,” he said.

“Right across the board they look like a good team that has got a bit of self-belief so we’ve got to take that away from them at the weekend.”

Blackadder insisted the Rebels’ 28-19 upset win over his team in their first clash in Melbourne last year was not a factor.

The Crusaders have made four changes to the team which comfortably beat the Highlanders last Saturday.

All Blacks pivot Dan Carter is on the bench, back after a month’s absence from the game due to paternity leave and a hamstring strain.

All Blacks loosehead prop Wyatt Crockett has been replaced by Joe Moody, halfback Andy Ellis gives way to Willi Heinz, and Tom Taylor returns at inside centre with Ryan Crotty moving to outside centre while blockbusting Robbie Fruean is rested.

The Rebels made three changes on Friday as skipper Gareth Delve returns via the bench after a month out with injury.

Veteran Jarrod Saffy comes in at blindside flanker in place of Luke Jones.

With a knee injury all but ending Richard Kingi’s season, Jason Woodward will move to fullback, with rookie Tom English getting his first starting role in the vacated wing position.

Melbourne Rebels: Jason Woodward, Tom English, Mitch Inman, Rory Sidey, Cooper Vuna, James O’Connor, Nick Phipps, Scott Higginbotham (capt), Scott Fuglistaller, Jarrod Saffy, Caderyn Neville, Hugh Pyle, Laurie Weeks, Ged Robinson, Nic Henderson. Res: Shota Horie, Paul Alo-Emile, Luke Jones, Gareth Delve, Nic Stirzaker, Angus Roberts, Lachlan Mitchell.