Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd expects the Lions to try and take the Crusaders on physically in Christchurch.

Slights can only stoke the fires so much.

Irrespective of whether Super Rugby's conference system is good, bad or indifferent, the Crusaders will host the Lions in Saturday's final at AMI Stadium. The Crusaders have been the best team all season and are thoroughly deserving of their place.

Some might argue about the fairness of the route travelled by the Lions, or their status as an elite side. Which would make you a moaner, according to Lions coach Swys de Bruin

Lions coach Swys de Bruin chats after his side's semifinal win over the Waratahs in Johannesburg.

But having got that off his chest last week, de Bruin isn't bound for Christchurch with any choice words for the Crusaders or their fans. 

The Lions gave the Waratahs a 14-point headstart in Sunday's (NZT) semifinal in Johannesburg, before coming back to record a convincing 44-26 victory. There has been a suggestion that a Lions win in Saturday's decider wouldn't be great for Super Rugby's credibility and de Bruin was asked if he'd use that create an us against New Zealand mentality within the team this week.

"Not really. For a final there, against them, you've just got to keep it simple. They'll motivate themselves," de Bruin said.

"It would be stupid of me to find certain things to motivate them. So just focus on what we do and what we love to do - score tries and inspire people with the way we play."

In fact, rather than lifting for the final, de Bruin wants the Lions to remain calm. This is the team's third Super Rugby decider in succession, having lost 20-3 to the Hurricanes in Wellington in 2016, then going down 25-17 at home to the Crusaders last year.

Scott Barrett and the Crusaders' pack will take some beating on home soil.

"It's vital not to make the occasion too big this time around and [stir up] too many emotions and [make it] about individuals and stuff. It's got to be about the team and just the team," said de Bruin.

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The Crusaders qualified for the final thanks to the kind of clinical performance they're famed for. The Hurricanes went to Christchurch with a puncher's chance of an upset and trudged off 80 minutes later having hardly landed a blow.

The final score of 30-12 didn't do the Crusaders' dominance justice, given the first Hurricanes try was a little dubious and the last arrived after the final hooter.

"I suspect the Lions will probably try and impose themselves physically up front and that'll be a good challenge," beaten Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said.

His side hadn't been able to do that, as forwards such as Joe Moody, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett and Matt Todd paved the way for backs Richie Mo'unga and Jack Goodhue to prosper. There's no mystery to the Crusaders' football, but the accuracy and relentlessness of it tends to be too much for most opponents.