McCaw: Crusaders captain

McCaw, who is widely regarded as the world's best openside flanker, made a successful comeback in the Crusaders' 29-10 semi-final win over the Stormers, with his foot, which he refers to as 'the hoof', came through the clash unscathed.

"The hoof is fine. I just got buckled up a bit and everything else is sore but that is the least of my worries," he told Fairfax Media.

"I was happy enough out there and we were in control so I didn't actually feel like the legs were too bad. I felt pretty good."

The All Blacks captain is keen to have another crack at the Reds after being controversially penalised for playing the ball in a ruck in front of his posts, in the dying minutes of their previous meeting in Brisbane on 29 May. Reds playmaker Quade Cooper then slotted the resulting penalty to give his side a 17-16 win.

Speaking shortly after their semi-final win, McCaw said the Crusaders don't fear the Reds and especiallly not their highly rated half-back pairing.

"Not really, no. But if you allow them to get front-foot ball the nine and 10 dictate things well. We just have to do what we did tonight and starve them of front-foot ball," he said.

"From a team point of view it was pretty disappointing to lose last time, so we have got a chance to tip them up in the critical one. They played well against the Blues but we have got to back ourselves."

McCaw explained how the Crusaders were dealing with the effects of their hectic travelling schedule and said the side were motivated to win the title for the people of Christchurch.

"No doubt that for the first couple of days after travelling, you don't feel that good. But what you keep reminding yourself is that by Saturday, you'll be ready to go," he continued.

"If you take that attitude, you don't get down, and you tick off what you need to do at training, even if it's not 100 per cent, so that you can perform on Saturday.

"[Cape Town] was a great example of that. Now we've just got to bank that and know that we can do it again next week.

"And with it comes a chance to bring some silverware back to a devastated city.

"We made a decision early on that we want to stand up for the people at home and to show what the Crusaders are all about. We have that chance now."

Crusaders prop Wyatt Crockett, who won his second man-of-the match award in two matches against the Stormers, echoed his captain's sentiments.

"Hopefully, we can do our people back home proud. They are struggling a bit, so we're doing it for them," he said.