Knockout footy for champions

BOTH teams feel they have to win to stay in the playoff race, conditions will be neutral under cover – the Chiefs v Highlanders game in Dunedin tonight promises to be a cracker.

With three weeks of the regular season left in Super Rugby, the Chiefs find themselves having slipped from top of the New Zealand conference to eighth overall, and outside the playoff positions.

The Highlanders are three points ahead of the Chiefs in fifth place overall and holding the second of three wildcard positions.

In the vital race for conference honours, the Chiefs are fourth and six points behind the leading Crusaders but, at this point for the back-to-back Super Rugby champions, it is about making the top six for playoffs.

‘‘We’re in a must-win situation,’’ said Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie.

‘‘It’s pretty much knockout footy for us already because, if you lose this game, you need a miracle so it’s a big weekend and everyone’s well aware of that.’’

The Chiefs have worked hard in the break to introduce some variation to their game.

‘‘We haven’t changed too much but hopefully enough to make the opposition think a little bit,’’ Rennie said.

The Highlanders have won seven games this season, which is more than they managed all season in 2013, but like the Chiefs lost their last two before the international window, going down to the Crusaders at home and Reds just the away by narrow margins.

‘‘They’re pretty innovative, they’ve got a lot of pretty slick set-pieces that challenge a lot of teams, they’re lethal off turnover pill and counter-attack so we need to be areas.

‘‘In regard to our kick-chase, we need to be accurate and keep pill and ultimately we need to be aware of

pretty strong in those those strengths that they’ve got because they do play some pretty attractive footy,’’ Rennie said.

But the Chiefs do see opportunities against the Highlanders, a team the Chiefs pipped 21-19 in Hamilton back on March 1. ‘‘We need to be a little bit slicker than we have been in the last couple of weeks [before the break] in regard to finishing off opportunities.’’

Expect some subtle variations in the way the Chiefs forwards attack as well as how they combine that with a slick backline.

The home side will be sparked by some of the individual stars of the All Blacks’ recent 3-0 whitewash against England – Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Ben Smith.

Former Chiefs wing Patrick Osborne has been in top form this season for the Highlanders.