The Blues’ flirtation with the Super Rugby playoffs continues on Saturday night against New Zealand conference leaders the Crusaders in Christchurch and hooker Keven Mealamu promises they will leave everything on the park.

The Blues kept their finals hopes alive last weekend with a stunning 40-14 humbling of the Western Force.

That followed their win over the Hurricanes before the June international window and put them within four points of the top six with two rounds to go.

“We’ve got nothing to lose,” Mealamu said.

“We’re going to leave everything out there. That’s the sort of mentality we took to Perth and we want to make sure we take it down there, because there’s no next week.”

The Blues haven’t won in Christchurch since 2004.

But they did break another drought against the Force, notching up their first victory outside Auckland since February last year.

The Crusaders, smarting from their 16-9 defeat to the Hurricanes last weekend, have called in some big names.

All Blacks centurion Dan Carter will make his first start of the season after his six-month break, but in the less familiar role of inside centre.

No.8 Kieran Read and prop Owen Franks are also elevated from the bench, while fullback Israel Dagg is included after getting over a knee injury.

The match will be Mealamu’s 150th for the Blues and his 161st in Super Rugby, the balance being made up by a stint with the Chiefs in 2002.

It’s a length of service the 113-cap All Black didn’t think possible when he made his debut in 2000.

He said the off-field camaraderie within the Blues, and being in the company of the likes of fellow All Blacks Jerome Kaino and Ma’a Nonu – both back with the franchise this year – had translated into his performances on the park.

The youngsters in the squad were also motivation for the 35-year-old Mealamu.

“We’ve got some special men coming through and it’s a real privilege to be able to play alongside them.”