The Chiefs remain title favourites as Super Rugby Pacific enters the business end of the season this weekend in a slimmed down six-team playoff series which includes a "lucky loser" for the first time.
Closer games and more try-scoring have attracted bigger crowds as well as higher TV audiences this season and organisers will be hoping that three blockbuster knockout ties, including two trans-Tasman Sea clashes, will maintain that momentum.
They could end up with egg on their faces, however, if the second-seeded Crusaders beat the Reds on Friday night and the top-ranked Chiefs down the Blues on Saturday.
That would leave the final playoff between the third-ranked Brumbies and fourth-seeded Hurricanes on Saturday night devoid of any jeopardy with both teams guaranteed a spot in the semifinals, one as the "lucky loser".
The Chiefs, runners-up for the last two years, have hit peak form with big wins in their last three matches and will be confident of getting past a Blues side that scraped into the playoffs in sixth place.
Clayton McMillan will field a patched-up midfield with All Blacks centres Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown absent through injury but there is still plenty of attacking flair in a backline steered by Damian McKenzie.
The Blues made a miserable start to the season but have also rediscovered something close to the formidable form that saw them win 15 of 17 matches on their way to the title last year.
Vern Cotter has been able to name a near unchanged line-up from the side that crushed the New South Wales Waratahs 45-6 at Eden Park last week for the trip to Hamilton.
"We expect they will come in with a bit of momentum and no shortage of confidence," said McMillan. "We'll be treating this like every other game with respect for the opposition, what they bring, and the assumption they'll put up a tough game."
CHRISTCHURCH FORTRESS
The Reds travel to Christchurch to play the 12-time champion Crusaders knowing that no Australian team has ever beaten a New Zealand side in a Super Rugby playoff.
The Reds beat the Crusaders on the road in the regular season last year, however, and welcome back captain Harry Wilson from injury as they look to hand their hosts a first playoff loss since 2016.
A trio of All Blacks in fullback Will Jordan, skipper David Havili and his centre partner Braydon Ennor all return for the Crusaders, who have never lost a home playoff.
"The boys are really excited about finals footy," said Reds coach Les Kiss.
"Winning in Christchurch last year was an important game for the club. It gives us clues and confidence to put our best foot forward on Friday."
The Hurricanes head to what will be a chilly Canberra with a spring in their collective step, having beaten the Brumbies 35-29 in the Australian capital in late April to kick off a five-match winning streak.
Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa is back to reinforce the Brumbies pack and coach Stephen Larkham said he was encouraging his players to ignore the possibility that they could go through to the last four as the highest-ranked loser.
"We are the last game this weekend but we've been pretty firm on making sure that we get a good result," he said.
"Irrespective of the other results, we need to know that we're playing well. Either way, we're going out there to try and win the game."
