There are just four teams left standing, as we head into Super Rugby semi-finals weekend.
Who will be left when the dust settles?
We chased down three of Newshub’s finest sporting brains for their predictions:
CRUSADERS VS HURRICANES
Ollie Ritchie - Sports reporter
Easily the most-anticipated match of Super Rugby this year, while all things point to a Crusaders victory, it may not be as clear cut as some people think.
The Canes have long had the Crusaders’ number and despite some patchy form - at best - lately, they will be up for this one and looking to avenge their woeful performance in conditions to match in their last meeting.
Ultimately, though, the Crusaders have really found their feet and I can only see this red-and-black machine continue its march towards an historic ninth title.
Crusaders by 10
Reece Labuschagne - Digital sports producer
With my Sharks eliminated, I'm looking at both semi-finals from a South African supporter's perspective.
A home final is on the cards for the Lions, if the Hurricanes can upset the odds and beat the Crusaders, but it’s hard to see that being the case.
The Crusaders simply have it all. They have the advantage up front with an All Black pack and they're not short of quality in the backs either.
But it's out wide where the Hurricanes will fancy their best chance of claiming the win, with a backline not to be scoffed at.
Ngani Laumape is in scary form at the moment and has made his presence felt on his opposites this season ahead of his much-anticipated head-to-head battle with Ryan Crotty.
They're strong and fast out wide through Julian Savea and Ben Lam, and have the competition’s best halves combination in Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara.
It'll be a back-and-forth battle between the two sides, but expect the experienced Crusaders to win the key moments of the game and, ultimately, book their spot in another final.
Crusaders by 12
Grant Chapman - Digital sports editor
Despite putting the defending champions away early in the season, the Hurricanes really haven't fired through the back half of their Super Rugby campaign and were somewhat fortunate to get past the Chiefs in last week's quarter-finals.
The bungle between referee and video official over TJ Perenara's first-half try - ruled a 'no try' on the field and never conclusively proven otherwise - was enough to get them through to the semis. Even the chatterbox halfback himself was left speechless by the call, but that's history now - we move on.
We all know the Hurricanes have the explosive potential to take out this competition, as they did only two years ago, but they haven't shown that nearly consistently enough over the past couple of months to predict on that basis.
Only their home superiority has kept them in the hunt and they can't count on that to save them this week.
On the other hand, consistency is the Crusaders' trademark and while that doesn't necessarily make for a great spectacle, their forward strength should present the Hurricanes backs little scope to weave their magic.
Crusaders by 15
LIONS VS WARATAHS
Ollie Ritchie
Hardly one to look forward to, but such has been the form of the non-Kiwi sides this year.
The Lions are always going to be tough to beat at Ellis Park, more a reflection of the altitude and atmosphere that come with the territory, rather than the Lions themselves.
Both the Lions and the Waratahs have a played 16, won 9 record this year, so they'll be tough to separate, but I'm backing the Waratahs to cause the upset.
They turned around a 17-point deficit against the Highlanders, so they'll keep that momentum going and book a trip to Christchurch the following week, where they will definitely not win.
Waratahs by seven
Reece Labuschagne
Both teams carry the hope of their respective nations and I expect the whole of South Africa to once again get behind the Lions, as they make a push for their third final in the row.
The Lions will look to and should dominate upfront. They'll be led by juggernaut Malcolm Marx, who is, in my opinion, the best hooker in world rugby.
Expect them to kick for the corners, disrupt the Waratahs lineout and drive their way over the try-line as they have all season.
There is some concern over the Lions backline and that’s where the Waratahs have the advantage, with Bernard Foley running the show, and Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau the weapons out wide.
They tore the Highlanders defence apart with ease in the second half of their quarter-final last week, with their Wallabies stars running rampant.
It's a classic case of forwards vs backs, but I believe the gap is a lot smaller out wide. The Lions also head into the semi-final having already beaten the Waratahs this season, a 29-0 drubbing in Sydney.
Lions by 10
Grant Chapman
The South African champions are well placed to become the first team to lose - I mean contest - three consecutive finals, which would almost make them the Buffalo Bills of Super Rugby.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, right? Most franchises would give their right testicle to make it that far once.
They'll have home advantage against the Waratahs, which have quietly been one of the form teams of the competition (in terms of wins and losses) since beating the Highlanders to break the Aussie losing streak against NZ franchises.
They achieved that again in Dunedin last week and are clearly hitting their straps at the right time, but must now overcome a massive road trip to Johannesburg to further their title aspirations. That seems like a bridge too far - the Lions were 29-0 better in Sydney three months ago - so brace for a Lions vs Crusaders final in Christchurch.
Lions by six
Newshub.
Join us at 7:30am Saturday for live updates of the Crusaders vs Hurricanes Super Rugby semi-finals.
