Beaten up at the ruck and lacking energy against the Rebels last week, the Crusaders were able to withstand an early barrage from the Highlanders and then turn their statistical advantage into points through the boot of Colin Slade.

After struggling with his handling early on, fullback Israel Dagg was a threat until he was replaced by Tom Tayler just before halftime.

Blessed with plenty of ball, Dagg had the better of his head-to-head with Ben Smith.

The Highlanders, hunting their first win over the Crusaders since 2012, were a step behind in their competition opener, and despite some gutsy defence they bled too many points at crucial moments in the game.

Rookie referee Ben O'Keeffe replaced Chris Pollock before the game after Pollock sprained his ankle.

The Highlanders started brightly, throwing plenty of offloads and hitting plenty of quick rucks but it was the Crusaders who scored first when Slade managed to float a long-range penalty over the crossbar.

It didn't take long for the Highlanders to find a reply, Aaron Smith ducking around the corner of a ruck to wrong foot Richie McCaw and catch the inside defence unawares for a timely score.

After Slade had hammered a penalty hard into the left hand upright, and McCaw was judged to be held up over the line, big lock Scott Barrett crashed over for the Crusaders first try and a 10-7 lead.

Again the Highlanders looked to have hit back immediately when big South African prop Ross Geldenhuys slammed his way over under the posts but the move was called back for a forward pass from Lima Sopoaga to Jason Emery, who was a late replacement in the midfield for Shaun Treeby.

Slade added a second penalty as the territory and possession started to tell on the Highlanders and then the Crusaders provided a hammer blow when Johnny McNicholl showed a bit of white line fever, and no shortage of strength, to score just after the halftime hooter.

Slade's conversion made the score 20-7, a 13-point deficit which the Highlanders didn't really deserve.

Malakai Fekitoa made a bumping run early in the game, but with the Highlanders starved of the ball his opportunities were limited thereafter.

Forced to make so many tackles, the Highlanders went to the bench early, while the Crusaders also pulled McCaw and Owen Franks with half an hour to go.

After Slade had banged another penalty into the upright, he found his angle four minutes later to give the Crusaders a 16-point lead.

Fekitoa gave the Highlanders some hope in the final quarter when he cut back against the grain and scored handy to the posts to cut the deficit to nine points.

Sopoaga's third penalty had the Highlanders within six points with as many minutes left, but Slade's third penalty iced the game with three minutes to play.

Sopoaga grabbed a bonus point after the hooter with a penalty from wide out.

The result will be a welcome one for the Crusaders after a week of soul-searching, while the Highlanders shouldn't beat themselves up too much.

They fought back well in the second half, but will have to find another gear quickly when they take on the Reds at home next Friday.

Crusaders 26 (Scott Barrett, Johnny McNicholl tries; Colin Slade 4 pen, 2 con) Highlanders 20 (Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 con, 2 pen) HT: 20-7