One last chance to enhance prospects

It’s time for those Super Rugby playoff permutations to start in earnest. With just one round of matches remaining in the regular season, Cameron McMillan checks how the quarter-finals could play out

the regular season against the Bulls, the bottom-placed team in South Africa. For the Jaguares to pinch top spot, they would need a win over the Sharks in Durban and a Lions defeat in Johannesburg. The Lions are set to face the Highlanders, who currently sit in sixth and finish at home against the Rebels on Saturday night. The Lions could also move up into second with a win and a Waratahs defeat but could also drop as far as seventh. The Highlanders should win but remain five points shy of the Chiefs with a points difference of 105. The Highlanders seem locked into sixth spot and a trip to either South Africa, Argentina or Australia awaits.

This fixture is pretty much locked in. The Chiefs could take home advantage with a 23-point win over the Hurricanes in Hamilton on Friday night. But it seems very likely these two teams will meet a week later in Wellington. The Crusaders have confirmed top spot after 11 straight wins.