The Highlanders will play the final match of their disastrous season against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday but no matter what the result is.

Tracey Nelson crunches the numbers from the weekend's Super 15 action.

The Wallabies are set to name a new coach today, ending Robbie Deans' tenure after Saturday night's loss to the Lions.

Highlanders first-five Colin Slade is set to make a dramatic return to the Crusaders next season as a replacement for Dan Carter.

The Highlanders may very well finish the Super 15 with the wooden spoon - but forgive coach Jamie Joseph for feeling rueful about what might have been.

A season low on expectation but with plenty of highlights is threatening to come to a rather downbeat conclusion for the Blues.

A performance to celebrate - and there was plenty of toasting in the changing rooms afterwards, but the Crusaders have quickly put their stunning victory over the Chiefs in its place.

There's no doubt the Blues need a bit of star quality at first five-eighths next year but their biggest concern on the recruitment front is strengthening a tight five precariously short of depth and genuine clout.

It's not often that a dead game has so much life.

My pick is that Ma'a Nonu will stay with the Highlanders. There's two reasons for that: Jamie Joseph is still prepared to take him on and the other is probably no one else is.

After years of searching and endless rejections, the Blues may have at last found their world-class No 10 - with Beauden Barrett understood to be seriously contemplating a shift to Auckland.

Jerome Kaino has had an offer to come home - but must decide whether he's willing to take an estimated $500,000 pay cut to play for the Blues next year and have a crack at making the All Blacks World Cup squad.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph must have watched his side's 49-44 victory over the Hurricanes in Wellington tonight wondering `where has this been all year?'.

It seems incredible a team with four straight defeats and a losing record could still sneak into the playoffs, but the Blues are hoping to beat the odds.

Tracey Nelson crunches the numbers ahead of the latest round of Super 15 action.

A must-win match is when a team most relies on seasoned pros, but John Kirwan is backing a young playmaking pair to pull through for the Blues.

When it comes to the possibility of Ma'a Nonu returning to the Hurricanes, coach Mark Hammett believes "you never say never''.