Super Rugby: Road to the play-offs
There are just three round of Super Rugby league action remaining, before heading into the play-offs.
And given the labyrinthine nature of the conference system that leaves most followers totally befuddled, it makes working out the prospects of each team an intriguing exercise.
The four conference leaders automatically get homeground advantage in the quarterfinal stage – which means the Crusaders (45 points), Lions (42), Stormers (36) and Brumbies (34) are in the pound seats.
The Chiefs (42), Hurricanes (40) and Highlanders (38) – despite having more points than the Stormers and Brumbies – will, based on the current standings, be travelling in the first round of play-offs. The Sharks (35), who have more points than the Brumbies, are in the same boat.
But it is going to get even more kafkaesque, given that some of the current leaders still have to play each other.
The weekend's action kicks off when the table-topping Crusaders travel to Hamilton to face the Chiefs, second in the New Zealand conference.
In the South African Two conference, the same scenario will play itself out – the Lions (top of the conference and second overall) are at home to the Sharks.
There are several such situations in the next three weeks.
While some teams have their destiny in their own hands, others need results to go their way.
Let's look at each team's prospects in the hope that we can unclutter the muddled mayhem.
Australian Conference
Brumbies:
Current position: First in the conference, fourth overall
Best possible finish: First in the conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Third in the conference, 12th overall
Remaining matches:
v Reds, at home
v Blues, away
v Force, home
Waratahs:
Current position: Second in conference, ninth overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Third in conference, 12th overall
Remaining matches:
v Sunwolves, away
v Hurricanes, home
v Blues, away
Rebels:
Current position: Third in conference, 12th overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, fourth overall
Worst possible finish: Fourth in conference, 15th overall
Remaining matches:
v Stormers, home
v Crusaders, away
v Reds, away
Reds:
Current position: Fourth in conference, 14th overall
Best possible finish: Third in conference, 11th overall
Worst possible finish: Last in conference, last overall
Remaining matches:
v Brumbies, away
v Chiefs, home
v Rebels, home
Force:
Current position: Last in conference, 16th overall
Best possible finish: Fourth in conference, 13th overall
Worst possible finish: Last in conference, last overall
Remaining matches:
v Cheetahs, away
v Stormers, home
v Brumbies, away
New Zealand Conference
Crusaders:
Current position: First in conference, first overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Fourth in conference, 10th overall
Remaining matches:
v Chiefs, away
v Rebels, home
v Hurricanes, home
Chiefs:
Current position: Second in conference, fifth overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Fifth in conference, 11th overall
Remaining matches:
v Crusaders, home
v Reds, away
v Highlanders, away
Hurricanes:
Current position: Third in conference, sixth overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Fifth in conference, 11th overall
Remaining matches:
v Blues, home
v Waratahs, away
v Crusaders, away
Highlanders:
Current position: Fourth in conference, eighth overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Fifth in conference, 12th overall
Remaining matches:
v Kings, away
v Jaguares, away
v Chiefs, home
Blues:
Current position: Fifth in conference, 11th overall
Best possible finish: Second in conference, fifth overall
Worst possible finish: Fifth in conference, 13th overall
Remaining matches:
v Hurricanes, away
v Brumbies, home
v Waratahs, home
South Africa One
Stormers:
Current position: First conference, fourth overall
Best possible finish: First conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Second conference, 10th overall
Remaining matches:
v Rebels, away
v Force, away
v Kings, home
Bulls:
Current position: Conference second, 10th overall
Best possible finish: First in conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Second in conference, 12th overall
Remaining matches:
v Jaguares, away
v Sunwolves, home
v Cheetahs, away
Cheetahs:
Current position: Third conference, 13th overall
Best possible finish: Third conference, 11th overall
Worst possible finish: Fourth conference, last overall
Remaining matches:
v Force, home
v Sharks, away
v Bulls, home
Sunwolves:
Current position: Last conference, last overall
Best possible finish: Third conference, 13th overall
Worst possible finish: Last conference, last overall
Remaining matches:
v Waratahs, home
v Bulls, away
v Sharks, away
South Africa Two:
Lions:
Current position: First conference, second overall
Best possible finish: First conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Second conference, 11th overall
Remaining matches:
v Sharks, home
v Kings, home
v Jaguares, away
Sharks:
Current position: Second conference, eighth overall
Best possible finish: First conference, first overall
Worst possible finish: Second conference, 12th overall
Remaining matches:
v Lions, away
v Cheetahs, home
v Sunwolves, home
Jaguares:
Current position: Third conference, 15th overall
Best possible finish: Third conference, 12th overall
Worst possible finish: Last conference, last overall
Remaining matches:
v Bulls, home
v Highlanders, home
v Lions, home
Kings:
Current position: Last conference, 17th overall
Best possible finish: Third conference, 13th overall
Worst possible finish: Last conference, last overall
Remaining matches:
v Highlanders, home
v Lions, away
v Stormers, away
Jan de Koning's Top Eight prediction:
1 Crusaders
2 Lions
3 Stormers
4 Brumbies
5 Highlanders
6 Chiefs
7 Hurricanes
8 Sharks
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