Road to the play-offs: Super shoot-out
That is the stand-out feature of this week's final round of Super Rugby league fixtures – which do have a few intriguing, but not exactly life-and-death, sub-plots.
The bulk of the teams that will feature in the quarterfinals have been determined – the table-topping Lions, the third-placed Stormers and four New Zealand teams – Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes.
The Australian conference still has to be decided, with only one of the Brumbies or Waratahs to advance. In fact the past weekend's results – when not a single Aussie team won – left that country reeling.
The Sharks are in pole position for the Africa wildcard and final play-off spot, but a slip against the lowly Sunwolves will open the door for the Bulls.
The real battle is for top spot in the New Zealand conference and with that home ground advantage in the opening week of the play-offs.
The table-topping Lions will face a vastly-improved Jaguares side in the final match of the league phase of the Super Rugby competition and they will, before kick-off on Saturday, know exactly what is required to ensure they finish top of the competition's totem pole.
However, with four New Zealand teams within four points (a win) of the Lions on the standings, it is likely only victory will suffice for the men from Johannesburg.
The Lions (on 52 points) are being pursued by the Chiefs (51 points), Crusaders (50), Highlanders (48) and Hurricanes (48).
However, those four teams are scheduled to meet each other earlier in the day – which will eliminate at least two from the Lions' equation.
The seven-time champion Crusaders are at home to the Hurricanes, while the defending champion Highlanders host the Chiefs.
The Stormers, who face the Southern Kings at Newlands, will finish third – regardless of what happens in the other matches this weekend.
The Brumbies, at home to the Force next week, are best placed to come out on top in Australia – with the Waratahs having to travel to Auckland to face the giant-killing Blues. The top Aussie team will be placed fourth overall.
The Sharks should claim the African wildcard entry to the play-offs when they finish the regular season against the Sunwolves. The Bulls are two points behind the Sharks and have a tougher assignment against the Cheetahs ahead of them.
We look at the final round of league action!
New Zealand Conference
Chiefs:
Current position: First in conference, second overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Third in conference, sixth overall
Remaining match:
v Highlanders, away
Crusaders:
Current position: Second in conference, fifth overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Fourth in conference, seventh overall
Remaining match:
v Hurricanes, home
Highlanders:
Current position: Third in conference, sixth overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Fourth in conference, seventh overall
Remaining match:
v Chiefs, home
Hurricanes:
Current position: Fourth in conference, seventh overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Fourth in conference, seventh overall
Remaining match:
v Crusaders, away
Blues:
Current position: Fifth in conference, 11th overall
Best possible finish: Fifth in conference, ninth overall
Worst possible finish: Fifth in conference, 11th overall
Remaining match:
v Waratahs, home
South Africa One
Stormers:
Current position: First in conference, third overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, third overall
Worst possible finish: First in conference, third overall
Remaining match:
v Kings, home
Bulls:
Current position: Second in Conference, 10th overall
Best possible finish: Second in conference, eighth overall
Worst possible finish: Second in conference, 11th overall
Remaining match:
v Cheetahs, away
Cheetahs:
Current position: Third in conference, 13th overall
Best possible finish: Third in conference, 13th overall
Worst possible finish: Third in conference, 16th overall
Remaining match:
v Bulls, home
Sunwolves:
Current position: Last in conference, last overall
Best possible finish: Last in conference, 16th overall
Worst possible finish: Last in conference, last overall
Remaining match:
v Sharks, away
South Africa Two:
Lions:
Current position: First in conference, first overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: First in conference, Second overall
Remaining match:
v Jaguares, away
Sharks:
Current position: Second in conference, eighth overall
Best possible finish: Second in conference, eighth overall
Worst possible finish: Second in conference, 11th overall
Remaining match:
v Sunwolves, home
Jaguares:
Current position: Third in conference, 14th overall
Best possible finish: Third in conference, 13th overall
Worst possible finish: Third in conference, 15th overall
Remaining match:
v Lions, home
Kings:
Current position: Last in conference, 17th overall
Best possible finish: Last in conference, 16th overall
Worst possible finish: Last in conference, last overall
Remaining match:
v Stormers, away
Australian Conference
Brumbies:
Current position: First in conference, fourth overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, fourth overall
Worst possible finish: Second in conference, 11th overall
Remaining match:
v Force, home
Waratahs:
Current position: Second in conference, ninth overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, fourth overall
Worst possible finish: Second in conference, 11th overall
Remaining match:
v Blues, away
Rebels:
Current position: Third in conference, 12th overall
Best possible finish: Third in conference, 12th overall
Worst possible finish: Third in conference, 12th overall
Remaining match:
v Reds, away
Reds:
Current position: Fourth in conference, 15th overall
Best possible finish: Fourth in conference, 13th overall
Worst possible finish: Last in conference, 16th overall
Remaining match:
v Rebels, home
Force:
Current position: Last in conference, 16th overall
Best possible finish: Fourth in conference, 15th overall
Worst possible finish: Last in conference, last overall
Remaining match:
v Brumbies, away
Jan de Koning's final Top Eight prediction:
1 Lions
2 Chiefs
3 Stormers
4 Brumbies
5 Crusaders
6 Highlanders
7 Hurricanes
8 Sharks
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