Canterbury wing Telusa Veainu has been placed on an interim contract with the Crusaders as cover for the outside backs.

Veainu has been a member of the last three championship-winning Canterbury ITM Cup teams and has also been part of the Highlanders' wider training squad.

He has been called up after Zac Guildford withdrew from the squad after his latest alcohol-related indiscretion last month, while a possible replacement, Kurt Baker, was injured at the Wellington Sevens tournament last weekend.

Veainu has been listed in the Crusaders reserves for Friday's second preseason match against the Highlanders at Oamaru.

The match sees the inclusion of some of the more experienced players into the squad, including All Blacks Wyatt Crockett, Luke Romano and Israel Dagg. The team will be captained by second five-eighth Ryan Crotty.

Dagg will start at centre. As many reserves have been named as are in the starting lineup, indicating many interchanges.

HOW THEY LINE UP

Crusaders team: Wyatt Crockett, Ben Funnell, Pa'ea Fa'anunu, Luke Romano, Dominic Bird, Luke Whitelock, Shane Christie, Jordan Taufua, Andy Ellis, Tom Taylor, Johnny McNicholl, Ryan Crotty (c), Israel Dagg, Adam Whitelock, Tom Marshall.

Reserves: Codie Taylor, Adrian Barone, Joe Moody, Jimmy Tupou, Jeremy Su'a, Willi Heinz, Robbie Fruean, Telusa Veainu, Joel Everson, Mitch Graham, Matt Todd, Tyler Bleyendaal, Kieran Fonotia, George Whitelock, James Schrader.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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