Road to the play-offs

With just two rounds left before the Super Rugby play-offs there are still nine teams in with a shout of making the top six.


The pressure will be on over the next fortnight as the top teams jostle for play-off spots, and although there are six teams that are completely out of the running they could play a vital role in determining who makes the cut by upsetting some big guns.


The New Zealand conference is the most competitive of the lot, with four teams still in the mix, although the Highlanders will need a few results to go their way if they are to sneak in.


The Chiefs have guaranteed themselves top spot in the conference already, so the focus in New Zealand will be on the Hurricanes and Crusaders who could both qualify.


In the South African conference the Stormers, Bull and Sharks are all gunning for a spot, but the most important teams could well be the Cheetahs and the Lions who will be involved in some crucial derbies.


The Cheetahs play the Stormers and the Sharks whilst the Lions face the Bulls in the final round of the regular season, so although they cannot make the play-offs they could have a big say in who does.


In Australia it is just the Brumbies and the Reds who have a chance, but both of them could make the top six if things pan out correctly for them.


With so many teams in contention there should be plenty of tension as the threat of being knocked out looms and the battle for a spot in the top two which guarantees a home semifinal and a week's break intensifies..


Chiefs:

Current position: New Zealand conference - first; global standings - first

Best possible finish: New Zealand conference - first; global standings - first

Worst possible finish: New Zealand conference - first; global standings - third

Remaining fixtures:

6 July: v Crusaders, home

13 July: v Hurricanes, away


Stormers:

Current position: South African conference - first; global standings second

Best possible finish: South African conference - first; global standings - first

Worst possible finish: South African conference - third; global standings - eighth

Remaining fixtures:

7 July: v Cheetahs, away

14 July: v Rebels, home


Brumbies:

Current position: Australian conference - first; global standings - third

Best possible finish: Australian conference - first; global standings - first

Worst possible finish: Australian conference - second; global standings - ninth

Remaining fixtures:

7 July: v Waratahs, away

14 July: v Blues, home


Bulls:

Current position: South African conference - second; global standings - fourth

Best possible finish: South African conference - first; global standings - first

Worst possible finish: South African conference - third; global standings - ninth

Remaining fixtures:

6 July: v Sharks, away

14 July: v Lions, home


Crusaders:

Current position: New Zealand conference - second; global standings - fifth

Best possible finish: New Zealand conference - second; global standings -fourth

Worst possible finish: New Zealand conference - fourth; global standings - ninth

Remaining fixtures:

6 July: v Chiefs, away

14 July: v Force, home


Hurricanes:

Current position: New Zealand conference - third; global standings - sixth

Best possible finish: New Zealand conference - second; global standings - fourth

Worst possible finish: New Zealand conference - fourth; global standings - ninth

Remaining fixtures:

6/7 July: Bye

13 July: v Chiefs, home


Reds:

Current position: Australian conference - second; global standings - seventh

Best possible finish: Australian conference - first; global standings - second

Worst possible finish: Australian conference - second; global standings - ninth

Remaining fixtures:

6 July: v Highlanders, home

14 July: v Waratahs, home


Sharks:

Current position: South African conference - third; global standings - eighth

Best possible finish: South African conference - first; global standings - second

Worst possible finish: South African conference - third; global standings - ninth

Remaining fixtures:

6 July: v Bulls, home

14 July: v Cheetahs, home


Highlanders:

Current position: New Zealand conference - fourth; global standings - ninth

Best possible finish: New Zealand conference - second; global standings - fourth

Worst possible finish: New Zealand conference - fourth; global standings - ninth

Remaining fixtures:

6 July: v Reds, away

13/14 July: Bye


Cheetahs:

Current position: South African conference - fourth; global standings - tenth

Best possible finish: South African conference - fourth; global standings - tenth

Worst possible finish: South African conference - fourth; global standings - thirteenth

Remaining fixtures:

7 July: v Stormers, home

14 July: v Sharks, away


Waratahs:

Current position: Australian conference - third; global standings - eleventh

Best possible finish: Australian conference - third; global standings - tenth

Worst possible finish: Australian conference - fifth; global standings - thirteenth

Remaining fixtures:

7 July: v Brumbies, home

14 July, v Reds, away


Rebels:

Current position: Australian conference - fourth; global standings - twelfth

Best possible finish: Australian conference - third; global standings - tenth

Worst possible finish: Australian conference - fifth; global standings - fifteenth

Remaining fixtures:

7 July, v Lions, away

14 July, v Stormers, away


Force:

Current position: Australian conference - fifth; global standings - thirteenth

Best possible finish: Australian conference - third; global standings - tenth

Worst possible finish: Australian conference - fifth; global standings - fifteenth

Remaining fixtures:

7 July: v Blues, away

14 July: v Crusaders, away


Blues:

Current position: New Zealand conference - fifth; global standings - fourteenth

Best possible finish: New Zealand conference - fifth; global standings - twelfth

Worst possible finish: New Zealand conference - fifth; global standings - fifteenth

Remaining fixtures:

7 July: v Force, home

14 July: v Brumbies, away


Lions:

Current position: South African conference - fifth; global standings - fifteenth

Best possible finish: South African conference - fifth; global standings - twelfth

Worst possible finish: South African conference - fifth, global standings - fifteenth

Remaining fixtures:

7 July: v Rebels, home

14 July: v Bulls, away