Fantasy Super Rugby: Round 16 Preview

Damian McKenzie is set to star again in the round ahead if given the starting nod at first five by the Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images

While late-season selections provide headaches for fantasy coaches far and wide, the two New Zealand derbies could prove bountiful for points in the latest round of Dream Team Fantasy Super Rugby.

This coming weekend heralds the beginning of a tricky period for fantasy coaches. As teams either drop out or cement places in the playoffs, players will be more frequently rested to heal injuries before the World Cup or ahead of the finals.

Examples of each situation can be found in the round ahead as the Crusaders rest a number of players who may have taken the field if their team's playoff chances weren't so dire. Conversely, their opponents tonight - the Hurricanes - have benched star back rower Victor Vito with a playoff berth already confirmed for the club.

Other international representatives named so far this week as either benched or rested include Victor Matfield, Marcel Coetzee, Cornal Hendricks, Trevor Nyakane, and Jacques du Plessis.

The Crusaders, meanwhile, are their own fantasy minefield with Wyatt Crockett rested, Sam Whitelock, Kieran Read and Ryan Crotty out with concussions and Colin Slade and Israel Dagg in doubt to return at all this Super Rugby season.

With the above in mind, it's more important than ever to hold off making any transfers for the round ahead until the last minute. It's even a good idea, for those fantasy nuts out there, to make use of our rolling lockout and save transfers involving players in later fixtures until just before kickoff of that game, just to make sure there are no last minute team changes.

Despite the doom and gloom of the above, there are still opportunities to be taken advantage of this weekend with the two New Zealand derbies set to provide points aplenty for astute owners.

Tonight's fixture between the Crusaders and Hurricanes is forecast to take place in clear weather while the Highlanders will face the Chiefs in a chilly but forecast-to-be-fine Invercargill.

This means we can play our star backs with confidence - particularly Hurricanes players against a re-jigged Crusaders backline that could be ripe for the picking.

Both the Highlanders and Chiefs, meanwhile, contain some jewels amongst their squad that we can take advantage of. As expected, Damian McKenzie was huge last week with 90 points as Liam Messam (40) and Tim Nanai-Williams (30) returned to action with strong performances that will boost their values.

Liam Coltman has been a front row force for the Highlanders all season while Ben Smith has been the game's form fullback over the past five rounds.

Get the latest fantasy advice from Dr Stats Thursdays at 6.25pm on Radio Sport with D'Arcy Waldegrave.

On the bench:
Jan Serfontein, Bulls (out 2-3 weeks)
Jesse Kriel, Bulls (benched)
Jacques du Plessis, Bulls (benched)
Victor Matfield, Bulls (rested)
Callie Visagie, Bulls (benched)
Trevor Nyakane, Bulls (benched)
Allan Alaalatoa, Brumbies (benched)
Matt Toomua, Brumbies (out 1-2 weeks)
Carel Greeff, Cheetahs (dropped)
Francois Brummer, Cheetahs (dropped)
Cornal Hendricks, Cheetahs (rested)
Johan Bardoul, Chiefs (out for season)
Liam Messam, Chiefs (out indefinitely)
Tom Marshall, Chiefs (out 1-2 weeks)
Mitchell Graham, Chiefs (benched)
Wyatt Crockett, Crusaders (rested)
Sam Whitelock, Crusaders (out 1-2 weeks)
Kieran Read, Crusaders (out 1-2 weeks)
Ryan Crotty, Crusaders (out 1-2 weeks)
Colin Slade, Crusaders (out indefinitely)
Israel Dagg, Crusaders (out indefinitely)
Mark Reddish, Highlanders (out 1-3 weeks)
Shaun Treeby, Highlanders (dropped)
Gareth Evans, Highlanders (benched)
Chris Eves, Hurricanes (rested)
Victor Vito, Hurricanes (benched)
Reynold Lee-Lo, Hurricanes (benched)
Robbie Coetzee, Lions (suspended 3 weeks)
Howard Mnisi, Lions (out indefinitely)
Andries Ferreira, Lions (dropped)
Ruan Dreyer, Lions (benched)
Jacques van Rooyen, Lions (out 1 week)
Cruze Ah-Nau, Rebels (benched)
Paul Alo-Emile, Rebels (benched)
Scott Fuglistaller, Rebels (benched)
Nic Stirzaker, Rebels (benched)
Cam Crawford, Rebels (dropped)
Jake McIntyre, Reds (benched)
Chris Kuridrani, Reds (out indefinitely)
Frans Steyn, Sharks (out 1-3 weeks)
Marcell Coetzee, Sharks (rested)
Willem Alberts, Sharks (in doubt to play)
Stephan Lewies, Sharks (out for season)
Louis Schreuder, Stormers (benched)
Schalk Burger, Stormers (rested)
Frans Malherbe, Stormers (benched)
Will Skelton, Waratahs (suspended 2 weeks)
Silatolu Latu, Waratahs (suspended 4 weeks)

Top pick:
Damian McKenzie, Chiefs

Cheap pickups:
Damian McKenzie, Chiefs
Bryce Heem , Chiefs
Demetri Catrakilis, Stormers
Rob Horne, Waratahs