The Chiefs have won a franchise record nine consecutive matches to establish an eight-point lead at the top of the table with five rounds remaining. 

On Saturday they beat the reigning champions Crusaders for the second time this season 34-24.

The Brumbies are the leading Australian side but their 32-27 loss to the Hurricanes on Friday night has seen the gap between second and third close to a solitary point. The Blues and the Reds are on winning streaks while the Highlanders are tenuously hanging onto eighth position. Fijian Dura has slipped to 11th place with winless Moana Pasifika likely the only team out of playoff contention. 

On present standings, the quarterfinals would be (home team listed first):

Chiefs v Highlanders
Brumbies v Waratahs
Hurricanes v Reds
Blues v Crusaders

Chiefs

Current position: 1
Current points: 40
Remaining matches:
Highlanders (a)
Reds (h)
Hurricanes (h)
Brumbies (a)
Force (a)
Possible maximum points: 65


Only the 2002 Crusaders have completed an entire season unbeaten. The Chiefs have the capacity to repeat the feat, especially considering leading midfielders Anton Lienert-Brown and Alex Nankivell will be available for selection soon. The Hurricanes at home on May 20 and the Brumbies in Canberra in the penultimate round are challenging fixtures but the Chiefs should be good enough to stay top with likely wins in the other three games.
 
Brumbies

Current position: 2
Current points: 32
Remaining matches:
Rebels (a)
Highlanders (h)
Force (a)
Chiefs (h)
Rebels (h)
Possible maximum points: 57

The Rebels twice won’t be easy with the Melbourne franchise stretching the Crusaders recently and winning their last match. However, the Brumbies should have their measure and that of the Force and the Highlanders. If the Brumbies beat the Chiefs, they could finish top though the Chiefs would have to stumble twice. The Brumbies should be good enough to maintain second place.
 
Hurricanes

Current position: 3
Current points: 31
Remaining matches:
Drua (a)
Moana Pasifika (h)
Chiefs (a)
Blues (a)
Crusaders (h)
Possible maximum points: 56


The Hurricanes have a brutal run home with a tricky fixture against Fijian Drua in Suva and the three leading New Zealand teams to finish. They simply must put Drua and Pasifika away to ensure they maintain their prospects of hosting a quarterfinal. The roster is relatively settled but the forwards are going to have to step up if the Hurricanes are to be genuine contenders. Losses to the Blues and Chiefs have already been suffered this season. 
 
Blues

Current position: 4
Current points: 30
Remaining matches:
Moana Pasifika (h)
Crusaders (a)
Reds (a)
Hurricanes (h)
Highlanders (h)
Possible maximum points: 55

If the Blues can repeat their 2022 success over the Crusaders in Christchurch, they would give themselves a strong chance of hosting a quarterfinal. Success against the Hurricanes at home could even see them challenge the Brumbies for second. The Reds away could be a banana skin game. The Blues with three wins on the trot are well-poised to climb the table.

Crusaders 

Current position: 5
Current points: 28
Remaining matches:
Force (a)
Blues (h)
Moana (a)
Waratahs (h)
Hurricanes (a)
Possible maximum points: 47


The Crusaders have had a horror injury run and it appears Sevu Reece and George Bower are unlikely to return this season. However, the forward pack is growing in strength. Wins against the Hurricanes and Blues will likely secure hosting rights for a quarterfinal. The May 13 showdown with the Blues is one of the most important of the season. 
 

Queensland Reds

Current position: 6
Current points: 19
Remaining matches:
Waratahs (h)
Chiefs (a)
Blues (h)
Highlanders (a)
Drua (a)
Possible maximum points: 44

The Reds have won their last two matches suggesting improvement after a horror mid-season run. Two wins in the next handful of games would potentially be enough to secure a quarterfinal place. The last two fixtures against the Highlanders and Drua will likely decide the Reds finals fate.
 

Waratahs

Current position: 7
Current points: 17
Remaining matches:
Reds (a)
Rebels (h)
Drua (h)
Crusaders (a)
Moana (h)
Possible maximum points: 42

If the Waratahs beat the Reds this weekend they will and should stay ahead of their fierce rivals with winnable matches at home against Moana Pasifika and the Rebels. The Waratahs showed a lot of heart and composure to score in the last minute to beat the Highlanders on Friday night. The result building resilience for the run home.
 

Highlanders

Current position: 8
Current points: 15
Remaining matches:
Chiefs (h)
Brumbies (a)
Rebels (h)
Reds (h)
Blues (a)
Possible maximum points: 40

The Highlanders had a disastrous Australian tour dropping both matches and in the next fortnight face the leading two teams which will likely see them drop outside the top eight unless they can cause an upset. The Blues at Eden Park in the last round is another tough fixture meaning the home fixtures against the Reds and Rebels must win games if the Highlanders are to secure a playoff spot.
 

Melbourne Rebels

Current position: 9
Current points: 14
Remaining matches:
Brumbies (h)
Waratahs (a)
Highlanders (a)
Force (h)
Brumbies (a)
Possible maximum points: 39

The Rebels have been a tough nut to crack at home and will be hoping that continues when they face the Brumbies this weekend. The Force simply must be accounted for if the Rebels hope to stay in the eight. The Rebels away record is mediocre but wins against the Highlanders and Waratahs aren’t unrealistic if they replicate their efforts in close losses to the Hurricanes and Crusaders this season.

Western Force

Current position: 10
Current points: 14
Remaining matches:
Crusaders (a)
Drua (h)
Moana Pasifika (a)
Brumbies (h)
Rebels (a)
Chiefs (h)
Possible maximum points: 34

It’s hard to see the Force making the eight with the defending champions and top Aussie side still to play in addition to the Chiefs who by the last round might have secured the top spot and might field a weaker roster but will still be tough to beat. 
 
Fijian Drua

Current position: 11
Current points: 13
Remaining matches:
Hurricanes (h)
Force (a)
Waratahs (a)
Moana (h)
Reds (h)
Possible maximum points: 33

All three Drua wins have been at home this season and if they can maintain that strong form they could sneak into the playoffs. A win in Perth against the Force is another possibility if the Drua click. Consistency has been an issue this season.
 

Moana Pasifika

Current position: 12
Current points: 2
Remaining matches:
Blues (a)
Hurricanes (a)
Crusaders (h)
Fijian Drua (a)
Waratahs (a)
Possible maximum points: 27
 

Although Moana Pasifika’s playoff chances are only mathematical, they can still play a big role in the makeup of the final eight. The five teams they have left to play all need wins over Moana Pasifika to either secure a home quarterfinal (Blues, Hurricanes and Crusaders) or sneak into the playoffs (Fijian Drua and Waratahs). Moana Pasifika could become the tournament spoilers over the next few weeks and will be a dangerous prospect given their ball running talent out wide.