ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is playing the long game as he looks to ease Wallaby Nick Frost back into action.
Frost will once again miss the Brumbies' clash against the Crusaders, with Larkham opting for the same 23 that handled the Western Force last week.
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Several All Blacks have had similar delayed starts to the season, with Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard and Codie Taylor among the stars either rested or used off the bench to start the year.
Larkham has opted for a similar approach for his Wallaby lock, who played 13 Tests last year as part of the expanded calendar.
The Brumbies legend adopted the same tactic last year, trusting his young guns in their opening round win in Fiji and doing the same for Sunday's trip to Christchurch.
"If you just look at the two second rowers that started, [Lachie] Shaw and Cadeyrn Neville both played exceptionally well in teams of Super Rugby performances and then Toby Macpherson coming off the bench played well around the contact areas of the game so we didn't need to change it this week," Larkham told the media.
"It gives Frosty another week to prepare his body."
The match in Christchurch will be a special milestone for prop James Slipper, reaching 200 Super Rugby games.
Only Wyatt Crockett has more caps, with Slipper nearing his record of 202 games.
"He's a great person, first and foremost, off the field. He's very dedicated and passionate about Rugby and the Brumbies," Larkham said.
"Every time he speaks, whether it's in a huddle or in a team meeting space, everyone listens and takes the advice on board and then he backs that up with consistent performance.
"[He's] still playing as good as he's ever played in his career and still loving his Rugby, it's a pleasure to coach him and the boys love being around him."
The Brumbies last won in Christchurch in 2000, with the Crusaders winning their last 12 against the ACT side at the ground.
"They've got a lot of history around [Apollo Projects Stadium], so the opportunity is there for us to go over there and try and put a performance in that we saw last year against the Blues over in Eden Park," Larkham added.
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Rhys van Nek, Lachie Shaw, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan (c), Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, David Feliuai, Kadin Pritchard, Ollie Sapsford, Andy Muirhead
Replacements: Liam Bowron, Blake Schoupp, Tevita Alatini, Toby Macpherson, Luke Reimer, Klayton Thorn, Tane Edmed, Hudson Creighton
