The Brumbies will fly to New Zealand on Thursday morning with the aim of ending a 19-year drought in Christchurch and winning their first game anywhere across the Tasman since 2014.

The clash between two long-time rivals is being widely talked about this week, but not because of the on-field match ups or the ramifications of winning or losing.

Crusaders officials said on Wednesday they were considering scrapping their name and imagery in the wake of the mosque shootings on March 15.

The game against the Brumbies will be the Crusaders' homecoming after three weeks on the road and the pre-match entertainment won't feature the usual Crusaders horses and horsemen.

New Zealand Rugby has employed a company to assess the merits of changing the club's name and logo after the Crusaders name became a source of contention given its links to Christian armies who fought against Muslims early in the last millennium.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said passionate feedback had been heard on both sides of the debate but clearly the imagery of knights, horsemen and swords can't be ignored for its negative connotations.

The off-field talk of name changes and the emotion in a city rocked by the terrorist attack add a different dimension to an already compelling Super Rugby fixture for the Crusaders' homecoming.

The Brumbies have close links to the Crusaders as well, having played against the Christchurch-based side in four grand finals between 2000-04.

Brumbies prop Allan Alaalatoa's older brother Michael plays for the Crusaders while ACT flanker Pete Samu won two championships in New Zealand before moving to Canberra.

"It's obviously tragic what happened over there a few weeks ago and I'm sure we'll pay our respects," McKellar said.

"Then we've got to get on with the job of [trying] to beat a very good team. I'm sure [the Crusaders will lift], but we're not too worried about what the Crusaders will bring. We've got to focus on us."

Tew said the research will consider two options for the 2020 season: retaining the Crusaders name but changing the branding and undertaking a complete rebranding.

"In the wake of the Christchurch attacks, it is apparent the symbolism the club has used, combined with the Crusaders name, is offensive to some in the community," Tew said.

"Maintaining the status quo in terms of the Crusaders name along with the current imagery of knights on horseback is, in our view, no longer tenable because of the association with the religious Crusades that has now been drawn. That is therefore not one of the options we will be considering."

Saturday's match against the Brumbies will be the first in Christchurch since the shootings and won't feature the traditional pre-match entertainment of Crusaders horses and horsemen.

Crusaders chief executive Colin Mainsbridge said a significant number of stakeholders they had approached linked the knights imagery with the religious Crusades.

"We see our role in this community as a unifying one and we are therefore committed to removing any part of our branding or match day entertainment that could be seen as divisive."

Mainsbridge said Muslim leaders had been consulted but would not be burdened with responsibility around the new brand.

The company employed to do the research will speak to government agencies, community groups, commercial partners, players, coaches and fans.

SUPER RUGBY ROUND EIGHT

Saturday: Canterbury Crusaders v ACT Brumbies at Christchurch, 3.15pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports.