The seventh ranked Stormers must survive their sudden-death playoff without warrior-captain Duane Vermeulen.

They normally boast three of the nation's best but the Chiefs' biggest game of the season may just feature a rookie No9.

Only six Super Rugby teams can take part in the playoffs and for some of the teams who missed out, the end of the season will have come as a relief.

The Highlanders have nailed the Chiefs 36-9 and 20-17 this season but a third success, even under the roof in Dunedin, looks lineball at best. Wynne Gray tells us why.

Making the playoffs has been standard fare for the Chiefs in the Dave Rennie era and they collected championship crowns in 2012 and 2013.

The Blues just need to look at the Highlanders, writes Justin Marshall.

The Blues' latest plan to solve their coaching crisis by appointing Tana Umaga could put NZR in an even more awkward position.

Should the Blues should be granted a larger budget than everyone else to mitigate Auckland's higher cost of living, asks Gregor Paul.

If the Hurricanes turn up with their heads in the right place, there's no question they are good enough to win this competition, writes Christian Cullen.

Maybe it's time to think of 35 as the new 30 and not fall off our chairs if there are a heap of 40-year-olds playing Super Rugby in the next decade, writes Gregor Paul.

The Hurricanes showed why they're the favourites to take their maiden title with a 21-13 win over the Chiefs in New Plymouth.

A classy ending from the Crusaders - shame about the beginning and the middle of their campaign.

The Hurricanes used to label New Plymouth and the Taranaki region as "home" but after years of perceived neglect, the province threw their lot in with the Chiefs.

Exclusive: The Blues have targeted former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga as the key to helping them out of their coaching crisis.

Tonight in New Plymouth, if all goes to plan, will merely be the second instalment of a trilogy that decides the Super Rugby season.

A winning ratio around 35 per cent across three seasons is not job retention collateral, writes Wynne Gray.

A miserable season for the Blues has limped to a predictable conclusion after they were thrashed by the Highlanders tonight.

Watch a replay of tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Highlanders from Eden Park.

You can't help but feel it's a real changing of the guard and Super Rugby will never be the same again, writes Justin Marshall.

The Chiefs' injury load is easing at the right time but they will still be without a pair of frontline forwards for tomorrow's showdown with the Hurricanes.

The second five-eighth has slipped quietly under the radar to bring up his 50th game against the Blues tonight.