I know they haven't taken their chances at this stage in previous competitions, but I'd have to say the Waratahs are the team with the form and momentum and will be tough to beat.

They have wobbled and battled, scrambled and scraped their way to the final six without ever looking convincing and yet now they are in the playoffs, the Chiefs have the look of champions.

A good night's work led to a good night's kip for the Crusaders. They got their four-try victory and with it, the near certainty that the Sharks, who played overnight, couldn't knock them out of second place.

The Crusaders are not everyone's model rugby side. But they understand the basics needed to achieve victories and for that, they need to be admired.

Relive all the action from tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and Highlanders, from AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

Much decorated hooker Keven Mealamu shows his steel on the paddock and his gentleness off it.

It's "What's wrong with the Blues?" time again. Two seasons under John Kirwan and nothing much has changed. Different animals, same zoo.

The Chiefs have kept their hopes of three consecutive Super Rugby titles alive with a win over the Blues at Eden Park tonight.

One of the cult heroes of the All Blacks' 2011 World Cup winning side is parting ways with New Zealand rugby.

Foot and ankle injuries have combined to make this a frustrating year for Francis Saili, but as the Blues' season comes to a conclusion, he need only look at how he might fit into next year's midfield equation to put a fresh perspective on things.

It will be the first time in two years Smith has not been available for the Highlanders. A leg infection, kept him in hospital across the Ditch for three nights

The Blues have held firm at Eden Park although apart from the win against the Force, they have been unable to find the same recipe away from HQ.

If it takes until their backs are against the wall for the Chiefs to find true form, then the champs are exactly where they want to be tonight.

There's surely no other Kiwi team that could take its fans this far into a post-season push and leave them hanging at the last minute on an all-Australian affair.

The first match in which Blues first-five Ihaia West plays with his short-term future secured could also be the one in which he feels the most pressure.

The equation is simple for the Blues to make the Super Rugby playoffs: win by a clear 38 points this Friday at their Eden Park fortress.

Ask his coach whether Brodie Retallick should be regarded the best lock in world rugby and Dave Rennie leaves little doubt.

If Mark Hammett wakes up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat this week it could be following a nightmare about the amount of close losses the Hurricanes have suffered.

If the Blues have taken a step forward in 2014, they are about to take at least two back, writes Gregor Paul.

There's been a lot of chat recently about the decision-making at the Crusaders - and I was one who was critical of some of their selections, Writes Justin Marshall.

With only one week of the regular Super Rugby season left before the play-offs, where do the NZ teams currently stand, and what do they need to win? Find out here.

The Blues might not have a championship-winning No 10 but they do, in Bryn Hall, have a championship-winning No 9.