Even with the Chiefs yet to play their fourth match I think it's pretty clear neither they nor the Hurricanes can realistically make the Final (even with a BP win v Rebs today, Chiefs will still sit fifth & be three points off the third-placed (on Points Differential) Crusaders).
Blues have 19 points & a PD of 109 with the Force their final opponent at home.
Highlanders are 18 & 82 with Brumbies away.
Crusaders are 18 & 71 with Rebels away (but probably in Sydney* not Melbourne)
Highlanders are the most vulnerable imo, Brums are damn hard to beat at home & even if Clan do get the W it's hard to see them doing so with a BP.
You'd expect CruSadists to bring back the likes of Mo'unga & Whitelock to ensure they score maximum points, which they'll obviously need if they're to overtake the Clan.
Loss Bleus should be too good for Force & may struggle to come away with a BP but it's difficult to imagine that CruSadists can lift their PD by 38 more than Loss Bleus, so they go in as top seeds regardless imo (unless, of course, Force produce a major upset).
Blues v Crusaders Final at Eden Park looks likely to me.
* Edit: definitely in Sydney - 4:35 Saturday NZ time at Leichhardt.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...rm-sydney-trip-to-play-rebels-for-finals-push
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