Super Rugby playoff picture - If season ended today

Ben Smith and the Highlanders could host the Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs. Photo / Getty

The closer the Super Rugby playoffs get, the more it becomes obvious that the conference system will probably work against New Zealand winning the title this season.

As the points table stands, the Highlanders and Chiefs would meet in a sudden death match in the first week, as would the Waratahs and Brumbies.

Should the Hurricanes - the likely top seeds - lose in the second week, New Zealand may concede its home advantage for the final, even though it has dominated Super Rugby this year and fills the top three spots in a combined table for now.

Here's how the playoffs would play out if the season ended today:

Qualifiers
(3) Waratahs v (6) Brumbies, Sydney
(4) Highlanders v (5) Chiefs, Dunedin

Semifinals
(1) Hurricanes v lowest ranked qualifier winner
(2) Waratahs v highest ranked qualifier winner

Final run-in
1.HURRICANES (57 points, +126) - Highlanders (h), Chiefs (a)
2.STORMERS (43pts, +72) - Lions (h), Sharks (a)
3.NSW WARATAHS (42pts, +45) - Cheetahs (a), Reds (h)
4.HIGHLANDERS (48pts, +116) - Hurricanes (a), Blues (a)
5.CHIEFS (44pts, +60) Queensland Reds (a), Hurricanes (h)
6.BRUMBIES (42pts, +108) - Force (a), Crusaders (h)
***
7.LIONS (40pts, -22) - Stormers (a), bye
8.CRUSADERS (36pts, +107) Blues (a), Brumbies (a)
9.BULLS (36pts, +23) - Rebels (a), Cheetahs (h)