Super Rugby Pacific: Possible quarter-final matchups with two rounds to play

There are two rounds to go in the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific season and eight quarter-final spots up for grabs with the playoff teams all possibly decided this weekend.

Here's how the quarter-finals match-ups are currently stacking up:

1 Blues v 8 Highlanders, Auckland

Seven points clear with two games left, the Blues can lock in top spot as early as Saturday with a win against the second-placed Brumbies. Despite being one vs two, and the Brumbies having home advantage, the Blues should head to Canberra as overwhelming favourites after scoring 124 in the last two weeks.

The Highlanders, who have won three straight, are nine points back from seventh and eight points clear of the Rebels in ninth. This first quarter-final match-up could be set by Sunday.

Previous meeting: Week 4 - Blues 32 Highlanders 20

Games remaining
Blues - Brumbies (a), Waratahs (a)
Highlanders - Waratahs (h), Rebels (a)

2 Brumbies v 7 Reds, Canberra

The Brumbies aren't exactly sitting pretty in second. A defeat against the Blues and a Crusaders win over Fijian Drua on Friday will see them drop to third. The Chiefs are also within striking distance sitting seven points back.

The Reds have now lost four in a row and could still get run down by the Highlanders. However a home game against bottom-placed Moana Pasifika is the best chance to stop the losing streak. Unfortunately they then end the regular season in Christchurch. If they already have seventh spot locked up, they might consider sending a weakened team to face the Crusaders.

Previous meeting: Week 5 - Brumbies 16 Reds 12

Games remaining
Brumbies - Blues (h), Moana Pasifika (a)
Reds - Moana Pasifika (h), Crusaders (a)

3 Crusaders v 6 Waratahs

For the Crusaders it's looking likely they will face the Waratahs or Reds in the first round of the playoffs. They have two home games remaining and could be second by the end of next weekend, meaning another two possible home games in the playoff.

The Waratahs looked set for a third straight win before the Hurricanes chased them down in the second half on Saturday. An away trip to Dunedin awaits them this week. Despite beating the Crusaders a few weeks back, they would probably prefer to play the Brumbies in the quarters,

Previous meeting: Week 11 Waratahs 24 Crusaders 21

Crusaders - Fijian Drua (h), Reds (h)
Waratahs - Highlanders (a), Blues (h)

4 Chiefs v 5 Hurricanes

The Chiefs jumped into the final home quarter-final spot with the late win over the Rebels yesterday but they will have the Hurricanes, Waratahs and Reds all breathing down their neck this weekend.

The Chiefs have won the last three against the Hurricanes. Both teams finish on the road, the Chiefs in Fiji and the Hurricanes in Perth.

Previous meeting: Week 5 Chiefs 30 Hurricanes 29

Chiefs - Force (h), Fijian Drua (a)
Hurricanes - Rebels (h), Force (a)