Stakes high in final Super Rugby round

The battle for the crucial top playoff berths comes down to Super Rugby's final round - and probably final game - of the regular season this weekend.

Ten of the last 12 champions have been the top qualifiers, a position the Bulls will claim if they win a testing match against the seventh-placed Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday morning (NZT).

Any slip-up will open the door for the defending champion Chiefs if the second-placed New Zealand outfit beat the struggling Blues in Auckland on Saturday.

If the Chiefs were to also fall, the ACT Brumbies could claim the top spot by beating the Western Force in Perth on Saturday.

The top two sides earn automatic byes in the first round of the playoffs and host the subsequent semi-finals. The top qualifier hosts the final if they advance.

The Bulls and Brumbies have already wrapped up the South African and Australian conference titles to guarantee a place in the top three.

The Chiefs can claim the New Zealand honours by securing a bonus point against the Blues.

If they don't, the fourth-placed Crusaders will leapfrog them if they notch a bonus point win over the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Friday.

The top six have already been determined, with the Queensland Reds and Cheetahs likely to have to travel for elimination round matches next week.

Playing away from home historically counts against teams in the Super Rugby playoffs.

Only one team in 17 years have qualified outside the top two and gone on to win the title.

That was the seven-time champion Crusaders, who placed fourth in 1999 but went on to beat the Queensland Reds in a Brisbane semi-final and the Highlanders in a Dunedin final.