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The Blues will try to pull off the old Crusaders trick of coming into the playoffs through the back door and then walk out the front with the spoils in tow.
A bonus-point win in Perth on Friday night guaranteed them safe passage to a destination they perhaps
should have reached some weeks ago.
From looking odds-on certainties to host a semifinal at Eden Park this weekend, they ended up having to go hard in Perth just to stay in the top four. All that scrambling was a trifle undignified and saddled the Blues with the stench of desperation - making them look like a market hawker crazily trying to mix with corporate heavyweights.
Coach David Nucifora and his troops, however, care not how they made it or whether everyone else sees them as the weak link. All they know is that they are still in business and that is reason to be full of hope and no little optimism.
This morning they will know their fate, which is most probably going to be a trip to Christchurch.
In the normal scheme of things, that would be mission impossible. But the Super 14 has proved to be far from normal in 2007. Stranger things have happened.
First of all, 22 All Blacks didn't show up for the first seven rounds. Then the South African sides started winning away from home and shock of all shocks, the Crusaders were beaten on their home patch for the first time since 2004.
Everyone loves to bleat on about the playoffs being a place where anything can happen. Normally that's tosh - the Crusaders win. But in 2007, hey, honestly, anything can happen. Or at least that's what the Blues will be trying to convince themselves of over the next few days.
"There are four teams left and that creates a life of its own over the next fortnight. We are here and that is all that concerns us," said Nucifora yesterday from Perth before they boarded a flight to Sydney where they were going to hole up for the night to await the outcome of events in Cape Town and Pretoria.
"I know some people scoffed last week when I talked about our performance. But the team knew we had played a heck of a lot better and I think we turned a corner in terms of our confidence.
"We were determined not to let the hard work of the last five months slip by. The spirit has been outstanding these last few weeks and there is a real excitement and a real buzz within the squad."
And that excitement does have reason to exist. Old stagers like Steve Devine, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Ali Williams, Justin Collins, Daniel Braid, Sam Tuitupou and Doug Howlett, who played a big part in the championship winning side of 2003, will have seriously wondered whether they would ever get another taste of finals football.
As Devine said yesterday: "This is why you play the game."
For others such as Jerome Kaino, Nick Williams, Luke McAlister and Isa Nacewa, this weekend will sit as one of the biggest in their careers so far.
Those who have been here before will be sure to impress upon the newcomers the need to savour the moment; to make the most of it; as they know from bitter experience that you just don't know when you will get another chance.
And Williams, Mealamu and Joe Rokocoko might have to live with the cruellest of ironies - having waited four years to be in this position, they suddenly find themselves unable to break into the starting team.
Nucifora hinted again that there may not be room for the All Black wing as Rudi Wulf produced another outstanding performance.
"No one is putting direct pressure on me," he said to ward off suggestions that All Black coach Graham Henry has requested Rokocoko win the No 11 jersey.
"Rudi was again outstanding and we have tried to be consistent with the way we have picked the team.
"We would love to field everyone but unfortunately we can only start with 15.
"I would like to say, though, that Joe and the other guys who didn't start were outstanding last week and made an enormous contribution," Nucifora said.
With McAlister restored to the midfield the Blues will look to build their attacking threat again this week and rediscover the enterprise that had them flying high not so long ago.
They know their wings got a little singed having been so close to the sun but unlike Icarus they have retained the ability to soar again.
