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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Blues v Chiefs Super Rugby Pacific clash at Auckland's Eden Park.
The Aucklanders arrived at the final round of the regular season with a countback lead atop the competition table and will have to at least match the Hurricanes in their final outings to retain that advantage into the playoffs.
They were toppled by archrivals Crusaders last week and will want to put that sign of vulnerability behind them, with the post-season looming.
The Chiefs were the competition favourites at the start of the season and have flattered to deceive, finishing fourth - good enough for home quarter-final against Queensland Reds, but probably a disappointing outcome for last year's beaten finalists.
They are more than capable of playing spoilers to the Blues tonight.
Join us at 7pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Blues $1.35, Chiefs $3
'They fight themselves at training': Blues not buying Chiefs as underdogs for Eden Park finale
The Blues hope last week's shock loss to the Crusaders can serve as a timely reality check, as they try to secure top spot heading into the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs.
A bonus-point win would lock it away, although the Hurricanes also remain in the hunt to take out regular season honours, and with the Chiefs standing in the Blues' way, it seems the mind games have already begun.
After watching his side get tipped up by the Crusaders, All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke is hungry to be back on the park.
If he can do to the Chiefs what's he done to his teammates at training, it'd be a good step towards getting back on track, although it's far from panic stations in Auckland, after a rare slip up.
"I think it's a good thing," said Clarke. "We've had an intense session today... yesterday, the boys got the learnings and, even though it's only Tuesday, the boys are ready to go."
The Blues get one final Kiwi derby to round out the regular season and there's more than just their rivalry with the Chiefs on the line.
"To keep the Hurricanes from taking over, we have to win with a bonus point and that's something we want to focus on, but the Chiefs are as hard as it can be," said Clarke.
Entering the season as title favourites, the Chiefs have ridden a wave of inconsistency so far. A win on Saturday would be a timely lift heading into knockout rugby.
"It'd be a mental boost for us," said midfielder Quinn Tupaea. "Obviously, coming off a loss, you don't want to go into the playoffs with two losses, so it'll be massive to build some momentum."
While the Chiefs playoff picture is locked in - they'll host the fifth-placed Reds at Hamilton - the Blues are less certain, still able to finish anywhere from first to third.
Tupaea is certain of one thing.
"No-one thinks we can win it at the moment," he said. "We like that, we're just flying under the radar."
Clarke isn't buying it.
"They're just trying to really put themselves as the underdogs, when we know... I've heard stories where they fight themselves at training," he said. "They don't think they're underdogs."
Battle-lines are drawn, with top spot firmly in the Blues' sights.
