Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals are just two weeks away, but there’s still plenty to play for in the final round of the regular season.
Three teams can still finish top of the table, while four teams can still grab the last spot in the top eight.
Can all five NZ franchises reach the playoffs?
Here’s a rough guide to next week’s round…
BLUES
Chiefs (home)
Defeat to the Crusaders has set up a sprint to the finish-line against the Hurricanes, with the Brumbies finishing fast behind them. They need to at least match whatever the ‘Canes achieve earlier on Saturday to stay top of the table, but lose and they may slide to third.
Current quarter-final match-up: Fijian Drua (W 34-10)
HURRICANES
Highlanders (home)
Will need some help from the Chiefs, if they hope to finish top of the table, either beating the Blues or at least denying them a bonus point. Can finish top or slide to third.
Current quarter-final match-up: Melbourne Rebels (W 54-28)
ACT BRUMBIES
Western Force (away)
Did all they could do with a big win over the Rebels to stay apace with the Blues and Hurricanes - all three have 11 wins, but the Brumbies' lack of bonus points has hurt them. All four Force wins have come at home, so the visit there will not be a walkover, but the final round robin contest may yet decide who finishes top.
Current quarter-finals match-up: Highlanders (W 27-21)
CHIEFS
Blues (away)
Can't sneak into third, even if the Brumbies collapse at Perth and the Blues defeat this week becomes a fullblown slump, because they'd lose a countback of wins, so they’re locked into a home quarter-final against the Reds.
Current quarter-finals match-up: Queensland Reds (L 25-19)
QUEENSLAND REDS
NSW Waratahs (away)
Can’t improve their standing and can’t be caught from behind, but won’t want to drop one to their interstate rivals, after beating them in the opening round.
Current quarter-final match-up: Chiefs (W 25-19)
HIGHLANDERS
Hurricanes (away)
Mired near the bottom of the table mid-season, the southerners have finished strongly to seal a playoff spot. They can’t catch the Reds above them, but will watch the Drua v Rebels contest with keen interest, hoping the Fijians can do them a solid.
Current quarter-final match-up: ACT Brumbies (L 27-21)
MELBOURNE REBELS
Fijian Drua (away)
In their final season, the Rebels have taken the opposite trajectory to the Highlanders, but are still safely in the final eight for the first time. They take the dreaded road trip to Drua’s Lautoka fortress - they can still grab sixth with victory, but a big loss would see them drop to eighth.
Current quarter-final match-up: Hurricanes (L 54-28)
FIJIAN DRUA
Melbourne Rebels (home)
Hanging on by the finger nails, they can still leapfrog the Rebels for seventh with a bonus-point win, but defeat could see them miss the playoffs altogether, with the Force, Crusaders and Maona Pasifika all within touching distance behind them.
Current quarter-final match-up: Blues (L 34-10)
WESTERN FORCE
ACT Brumbies (home)
After struggling at the foot of the table for much of the season, they now have a chance of reaching the playoffs, depending on the Drua v Rebels and Crusaders v Moana results. Victory would put them in the mix.
CRUSADERS
Moana Pasifika (home)
Have a great chance to put all five NZ franchises in the playoffs, but much will depend on other results. Should have too much for Moana at home, but would need a Rebels win over Drua at Lautoka and Brumbies over Force.
MOANA PASIFIKA
Crusaders (away)
Have avoided the wooden spoon and can still squeak into the top eight with victory over the defending champions at Christchurch - but that would be a huge upset. Also need Rebels and Brumbies to do their part.
NSW WARATAHS
Queensland Reds (home)
Consigned to the foot of the table and will be desperate to topple their interstate rivals to give their fans something to cheer about.
Join Newshub next weekend for live updates of the NZ Super Rugby Pacific fixtures
