Melbourne gave their Super Rugby coach Damien Hill and a host of departing players a fairytale finish as they came from behind to snatch a 38-37 win over the Highlanders.

Jamie Joseph's water-tight contract makes him safe until the end of next year, but his assistants might not be so lucky.

The Highlanders will play the final match of their disastrous season against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday but no matter what the result is.

It's not often that a dead game has so much life.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph must have watched his side's 49-44 victory over the Hurricanes in Wellington tonight wondering `where has this been all year?'.

With the blood running hot, it took the cool head of Daniel Carter to steer the Crusaders home tonight.

The news last night that more than 4000 extra seats have been made available for tonight's Highlanders match against the Crusaders in Dunedin should add to the alarm bells ringing in the visitors' camp.

The Highlanders finally woke from a deep slumber to dispatch the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium last night.

As of next month, Brad Thorn will be unemployed. His contract with the Highlanders will be finished and he definitely won't play ITM Cup rugby this year.

Usually the Blues gather early in the week to dissect video clips, review their last game and wade through ideas for their next match.

Brad Thorn has won more things than most players and now he is experiencing life at the other end of the table.

Workaholic flanker Luke Braid has several dates with the Blues medicos before he can confirm his place for the decisive return Super 15 clash with the Highlanders.

Each day this week nzherald.co.nz looks at the progress of the NZ Super Rugby franchises at the business end of the season. Today: Gregor Paul on the last-placed Highlanders.

The Highlanders will have slept well last night despite, finally, winning their first game of the season after eight consecutive losses.

After racking up eight straight losses this season it is time for the Highlanders to move on, start afresh, and blaze some new trails.

Join us here for our live blog of the Crusaders taking on the Highlanders from AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

The Crusaders perform best when they play with desperation and a burning sense of injustice, so the Highlanders would be advised to prepare to dodge the metaphorical kitchen sink in Christchurch tonight.

Controversial referee Steve Walsh has been ticked off after he broke the new television match official protocol several times in last weekend's game at Eden Park between the Blues and Highlanders.

The wreckage stacked up to seven successive defeats tonight in Dunedin as they fell 30-19 to a controlled Brumbies team.