The Crusaders have once again dashed the Blues' title hopes by dominating their Auckland-based rivals in a 52-15 win in the first Super Rugby Pacific semi-final.
Two losses to the Crusaders earlier in the season and how they changed their game between both were lessons the Blues hope to learn from in Friday's Super Rugby Pacific semifinal in Christchurch.
Coming off a tight 29-20 quarterfinal win in Super Rugby Pacific over the Reds on Saturday evening; the Chiefs had the best preparation for their semifinal against the last remaining Australian team, the Brumbies.
The ACT Brumbies will fly the Australian flag in the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs for another week after a controversial win against the Hurricanes in their quarter-final in Canberra.
The defending champion Crusaders have advanced to the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals with victory over a team that beat them during the regular season.
The Queensland Reds have scored three tries to two but lost 29-20 to the Chiefs, Damian McKenzie's perfect boot denying them a slice of history in their Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final.
Fueled by memories of past playoff opportunities missed and, most recently, their loss to the Reds in New Plymouth, the Chiefs are well prepared for Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinal in Hamilton.
A strengthened Waratahs side is looking to end a long stretch of Eden Park misery in their Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinal with the Blues in Auckland on Friday.
One year after the disappointment of losing 25-35 their DHL Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinal against the Brumbies in Canberra, the Hurricanes know what to expect and what they need to do about it ahead of Saturday's game.
Western Force's dreams of a first Super Rugby Pacific finals have been shattered in a 43-19 loss to the table-topping Chiefs in a do-or-die clash at HBF Park.
The Hurricanes have rallied in the second half to beat the Christchurch-based Crusaders 27-26 as both teams count down to Super Rugby Pacific finals appearances.
The Queensland Reds face a nervous wait after the Fijian Drua swallowed them up in a 41-17 drubbing that secured a Super Rugby Pacific feel-good story with a finals berth in just their second season.
The ACT Brumbies will play a home Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final while the Melbourne Rebels' season is over, after the Canberra side ended the regular season with a 33-17 win.
The Blues have opened the final weekend of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season with a 16-9 home win over the Highlanders that severely dented the visitors' playoff hopes and opened the door for three of their rivals.