12/05/2008 12:05:00 PM
Steve Orme
Sportal

After 13 weeks of Super 14 action, the all-conquering Crusaders have secured top spot with a week to spare - but beneath them things are not so certain.

The stage is set for a thrilling final round with no less than six teams - the Hurricanes (40), Waratahs (39), Stormers (37), Sharks (37), Blues (36) and Chiefs (34) - all vying for three positions.

To add to the intrigue, two of the final-round clashes will feature teams who are still in the hunt with the Blues to host the Hurricanes on Friday night, while the Chiefs travel to Durban to tackle the Sharks in the final match of the round.

The Hurricanes can all but secure second place and a home semi with a win - courtesy of their superior points differential over the Waratahs - while a loss puts them in jeopardy of tumbling out of the top-four completely.

The Blues, however, need an unlikely bonus-point triumph as well as a bit of luck in order to extend David Nucifora's tenure in Auckland for at least another week.

Australia's only remaining candidate for a tilt at the title surrendered second spot after their hard-fought 13-13 draw with the Stormers in Cape Town in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Waratahs now head to Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night needing victory over an in-form Reds outfit who would love nothing more than to end their arch rival's campaign in bitter disappointment.

While a win will no doubt be the Waratahs' top priority, they need the Blues to defeat the Hurricanes in order to open up the possibility of a home playoff, and perhaps more importantly avoid a semi-final showdown with the Crusaders.

On paper, the Stormers face the easiest final-round assignment against the cellar-dwelling Lions, but fresh from their upset win over the Chiefs the men from Johannesburg could yet have a big say in the final wash-up.

The Sharks face a tough task against the unpredictable Chiefs but will have the advantage of knowing what they need to do in order to qualify.

If the Hurricanes and Waratahs both lose the equation is simple - win and the Sharks live to fight another day.

But if the Canes and Tahs win - and the Stormers gain a bonus-point victory - the Sharks will need maximum points against the Chiefs in order to surpass the Stormers, who head into the final round with a marginally superior (nine points) for-and-against ratio.

Put simply the Chiefs' hopes hang by a thread, with a win by either the Stormers or Blues enough to end their semi-final dreams before they even take the field in Durban.