More than 100,000 people are expected to have attended the four matches of Super Rugby Aotearoa by the end of round two.
This is a remarkable figure given the low number of crowds for the competition before it was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chiefs are expecting their first home sellout game since winning the 2012 Super Rugby final.
New Zealand became the first country in the world to open its doors to rugby crowds last weekend, prompting a 43,000 sellout at Eden Park, breaking a 15-year-old record for a Super Rugby game on Kiwi soil.
On the field, most interest will be on how the 10-time Super Rugby champion Crusaders open their campaign tomorrow against the Hurricanes with their team stacked with All Blacks, including veteran Test lock Sam Whitelock who has lifted the trophy at the end of the last three seasons.
The Hurricanes have made one key change, promoting Ardie Savea to the starting team after the All Blacks back-rower came off the bench in his return from knee surgery last weekend.
The Chiefs have likewise shifted five-eighth Aaron Cruden from the reserves to the starting line-up as they seek to bounce back from their 28-27 loss to the Highlanders.
The only changes to the winning Blues team are Akira Ioane and Dalton Papali'i replacing injured duo Tom Robinson and Blake Gibson.
All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett has been retained at fullback after a solid maiden performance for his new team last week.
The Blues will take on the Chiefs at 7.05 tonight while the Crusaders will face the Hurricanes at 3.35pm tomorrow.
[Source: TVNZ]
