Crusaders regular captain Richie McCaw is being considered as an outside chance to play the Crusaders this weekend but not in the No.7 jersey.

Due to McCaw's value to the Crusaders and the All Blacks he will not be rushed back into action but Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder is not ruling out a place on the bench for McCaw in Sydney on Sunday.

The All Blacks captain last played in the Rugby World Cup final on October the 23rd and has emphasized that he will not return to rugby unless he is confident that his foot has healed.

Blackadder is also mindful of the risk of returning the world cup winning flanker too early and will talk it through with McCaw thoroughly before he names the team on Thursday.

"He could be (ready to play) - I'm not really sure."

"He will be definitely there for the Reds the following weekend and could be back for the Waratahs," Blackadder told Fairfax NZ.

McCaw suffered a stress fracture in his foot in early 2011 and was troubled with pain and swelling right through to the end of the Rugby World Cup.

The Crusaders showed their best form in Round 9 against the Hurricanes this past weekend and in Round 8 became the first team to beat the Stormers and McCaw replacement Matt Todd has been in top form.

Todd's form means that there is no need to rush him back into the side but the All Blacks will want him to get some game time under his belt before the All Blacks' first test against Ireland at Eden Park on June 9.

"The only reason we would start him is if we have injuries to our loose forwards, otherwise it would be really nice to start him off the bench."

The Crusaders have five matches left before Super Rugby takes a break for the June International window and the Crusaders will want to give All Blacks forwards Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock some rest but also keep them fresh.

"I think while the guys are running hot, we will keep them going. "

"I will look to give 'Reado' a break when I can and another guy who has put in some massive shifts has been Sam Whitelock too."

That means that McCaw could come off the bench this weekend and the start against the Reds while No. 8 Kieran Read is rested.

Meanwhile, reserve hooker Quentin MacDonald has been ruled out for several weeks after he injured his shoulder against the Hurricanes.