Fantasy Super Rugby: Round 19 Preview

Ben Smith looms as one of the best options for fantasy coaches in the first round of the Super Rugby playoffs. Photo / Getty Images.

Welcome to the 2015 Super Rugby playoffs and, with it, a new phase of play within our Dream Team Fantasy Super Rugby game.

This upcoming round is the first since Round 1 where coaches can make an unlimited amount of trades - an arrangement that will now continue for the remainder of the season.

There's no need to worry about which team may progress this weekend, it's now all about fielding the best starting XV within your budget and taking advantage of match ups.

To make this nice and easy, there are just two fixtures this weekend, so only players from the four clubs involved - the Highlanders, Chiefs, Stormers and Brumbies - are relevant this round.

Sure, you can stash some Hurricanes and Waratahs players on your bench, but there's no pressing need to.

With that in mind, below is what the perfect starting XV for this weekend would look like if we could have an unlimited budget, as well as unlimited trades, and their scores turned out exactly as per their season average.

Front Row:
Liam Coltman, Highlanders, $59,400 - 13.19ppg
Steven Kitshoff, Stormers, $62,900 - 12.5ppg
Stephen Moore, Brumbies, $53,700 - 11.88ppg

Second Row:
Alex Ainley, Highlanders, $76,300 - 23.6ppg
Eben Etzebeth, Stormers, $90,200 - 20.20ppg

Back row:
David Pocock, Brumbies, $128,100 - 26.5ppg
Michael Leitch, Chiefs, $81,000 - 22.67ppg
Sam Cane, Chiefs, $82,400 - 21.71ppg

Halfback:
Nick White, Brumbies, $63,200 - 16ppg

First five:
Christian Lealiifano, Brumbies, $155,000 - 36.25ppg

Centre/Wing:
Waisake Naholo, Highlanders, $145,000 - 39.6ppg
Tim Nanai-Williams, Chiefs, $153,500 - 39.5ppg
James Lowe, Chiefs, $135,000 - 34.4ppg
Damian de Allende, Stormers, $166,800 - 33.47ppg

Fullback:
Ben Smith, Highlanders, $39.43ppg

Of those players, I would prioritise Smith, Lealiifano and Pocock as a cut above the pack and consider Smith or Lealiifano for your captaincy.

However, keep in mind that both times the Chiefs and Highlanders have faced off this year it's been wingers Naholo and Patrick Osborne who starred in fantasyland.

As far as the Brumbies and Stormers go, they've played each other just once this season with Stormers first five Demetri Catrakilis proving to be the MVP, followed closely by Pocock.

Current form can also prove to be a solid predictor of points. Based on their last three appearances, Vincent Koch, Etzebeth, Nizaam Carr, Nick Groom, Osborne, de Allende and Dillyn Leyds are your preferred pickups.

In key team news; Duane Vermeulen is out this weekend and is an unlikely starter for the durations of the playoffs, Malakai Fekitoa and Nasi Manu return for the Highlanders while Michael Leitch and Marty McKenzie have been benched for the Chiefs. Also, Charlie Ngatai and Tom Marshall will not play this week due to injury.

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

On the bench:
Quentin MacDonald, Chiefs (benched)
Michael Leitch, Chiefs (benched)
Maama Vaipulu, Chiefs (dropped)
Marty McKenzie, Chiefs (benched)
Charlie Ngatai, Chiefs (out 1-2 weeks)
Tom Marshall, Chiefs (out 1-2 weeks)
Shaun Treeby, Highlanders (benched)
John Hardie, Highlanders (dropped)
Joe Latta, Highlanders (benched)
Daniel Lienert-Brown, Highlanders (benched)
Duane Vermeulen, Stormers (out 1-4 weeks)

Top picks:
Ben Smith, Highlanders
Waisake Naholo, Highlanders
David Pocock, Brumbies
Christian Lealiifano, Brumbies
Damian de Allende, Stormers