KEY POINTS:
The Super 14 has sustained its reputation for confusion throughout this year's series with the final week leaving an orgy of scenarios for statisticians.
Six teams are trying to cram into three playoff vacancies alongside the Crusaders with the permutations, options and outcomes, heavenly material for those who
dwell in the world of mathematical probability.
From the tangled start of the Super 14 where the experimental laws, World Cup hangover and growing rugby malaise offered a muted picture, the competition has risen to a churning finish with equal uncertainty.
Someone like Dr Stephen Hawking would conjure up an odds graph.
However the Hurricanes, Waratahs, Stormers and Sharks must be favoured to outgun the Blues and Chiefs in the last frantic scramble for the semis. The Blues have maintained their unlikely run to the final four because the cluster of rivals ahead of them have been unable to close out games or grab vital bonus points.
They begin the final week's intrigue with their match at Eden Park on Friday against the Hurricanes. Victory for the Blues would not be enough because they would suffer in the points differential method which will be used to separate any teams tied in the final four. The Hurricanes have, by far, the best differential of the chasing sides and a solitary point at Eden Park may be enough for them to make the cut.
But it would be a slow-torture method of making the playoffs as the semifinalists may not be sorted until the last round-robin match between the Sharks and Chiefs at Durban.
That international clash on Sunday separates the three other local derbies which will decide the successful trio who will challenge the Crusaders for the 13th title in Super rugby history. The Blues meet the Hurricanes before the Reds host the Waratahs and the Lions entertain the Stormers.
For the All Black coaching panel, the last round offers them a strong comparison between players vying to be in the initial squad announced on June 1 for the season's first tests.
One match-up will depend on a judicial hearing tonight in Wellington with Hurricanes prop Neemia Tialata answering a dangerous tackle charge. Tialata's form has improved in recent matches but a suspension will eliminate a comparison against Blues loosehead prop Tony Woodcock.
All sorts of intriguing duels will be on show at Eden Park from the best hookers, Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu, to the midfield comparisons of Benson Stanley and Anthony Tuitavake against Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
The Crusaders' Saturday night encounter with the Highlanders allows the same panel to gauge a number of other international contenders. Daniel Carter should start for the Crusaders after a match-deciding cameo against the Reds. He and other reserves such as Ali Williams and Corey Flynn allowed the Crusaders to celebrate an irresistible comeback.
* PLAYOFFS POSER
Crusaders already qualified for home semifinal.
The Hurricanes (40 points), who moved into second place behind the Crusaders (52 points) after their 21-10 win over the Force face the Blues in Auckland.
Third-placed Waratahs (39 points) face out-of-contention Reds in Brisbane.
Seventh placed Chiefs (34 points) have to beat the fifth-placed Sharks (37 points) in Durban and rely on the Blues (6th, 36 points) and Stormers (4th, 37 points) to be rolled.
Like the Blues, the other contenders for the semis (except the Crusaders) have to win well and rely on other results to favour them to be able to extend their season.
