But a top four, the top two getting the home game advantages seems good enough to me. Sure this season the race for the last two spots has been intense, but that is no reason to expand the playoffs.  Everyone knows that 14 does not go into four, and that is why the excitement of the last few weeks as the Chiefs do their annual self destruct, the Blues have a late run, the Stormers have an 'almost' season.  How boring it would have been if there had been six spots available, well, maybe not boring, but certainly not as dramatic!

Right, so the top four is aces, and the top four we have arrived at see the Crusaders hosting the Hurricanes, and the Waratahs at home to the Sharks.  A travesty right from the bat when you go back a round or three to the Sharks versus Hurricanes game, when the piss poor ref fouled things up, and the match ended in a draw.  Take the two points off the Sharks, and add the two to the Huirricanes, and you would have seen the Crusaders taking on the Stormers, and the Hurricanes hosting the Waratahs.  However, we can't do that, so the Stormers lose a bucket load of cash by not being in the playoffs, and the Hurricanes lose too, by not hosting a home semi, and having to travel to Crusaders land, so there would be a bucket load of cash lost there too.

Anyway.  The games stand as they are.  First up, the Kiwi's clash.  Hurricanes heading south to take on the might of the Crusaders.  The Crusaders have been, quite frankly, pretty shit over the last two weeks.  They pulled a win out of the bag against the horrible Reds, and never looked like beating the equally horrible Highlanders.  They have looked disinterested.  There forward pack was handed their own arse on a platter last week from the no name Highlanders outfit, as they were the week before also.  And on the back of the piss poor pack performances, the backline has looked pretty standard too.  The Hurricanes also lost last weekend, but they didn't go down like the limp Crusaders.  They and the Blues fought out a fantastic match, with the Blues edging into the front at the end 19-17.  Despite three late drop goal attempts from the Hurricanes.  Yes, who says drop goals win matches...

So going into this game, the Crusaders well off the pace form wise really, and admitting the fact with a bucket load of changes.  Gone are FAB* Stephen Brett, dropped to the bench after a couple of weeks of mediocre form.  Gone is Caleb Ralph, off the match day 22 completely.  At last Deans has noticed the use by date on the back of his collar.  Also gone is Ben Franks, benched, Reuben Thorne, benched, and young winger Sean Maitland.

Coming into the starting lineup you see FAB2** Scott Hamilton, who has been in terrible form most of the season himself, but is a safer option than the promising youngster Maitland.  Wyatt Crockett replaces Franks.  Franks has been holding out Crockett from the starting line-up all season, but his standards have slipped over the last few games, so he's gone.  Thorne had his chance last weekend to reclaim a starting spot from Kieran Reid, but failed, so Reid gets the start this weekend.  The major change though, that not many would have picked was Brett getting the axe.  FUTURE ALL BLACK Brett.  Brett who was leaked as the new All Black 12 last week. 

So the Crusaders know that they have been playing crap, and have done all they can to rectify the sinking ship.  Is it shuffling of deck chairs on the Titanic though?  We'll see!

The Hurricanes on the other hand, have been coming into form nicely.  Since Nonu has moved into second five, and young Willie Repia taken over the first five jersey, the Canes have moved from strength to strength.  Their forward pack is doing the business, and their backline looking dangerous.  So'oilao looks likely to miss the game thanks to injury from the Blues match, his ribs not coming right.  This is one of the main reasons that I think that the Hurricanes are going to win this weekend.  The other reasons, they seem hungrier.  They have a revenge factor - there is a Super final a season or two back that no onesaw, but they lost.  They have never won a Super title, the Crusaders have a trailer load.  And then there is the old 'gut feeling'!!

Basically, in one line, the Crusaders look tired, while the Hurricanes look like they are ready to walk over broken glass to get the job done.  So yes, I think the Hurricanes will win this one.  Although, on the other side of the same coin, the Crusaders 'been there, done that, got the tee shirt-ness' can never be discounted.  When the going gets tough, they win...

The other semi final sees the quite achievers of this seasons Super season, the Waratahs taking on the Sharks, who started off with a roar, and then limped into the finals like a harpooned guppy.  Well, the Waratahs quiet when Phil Waugh isn't squealing like a pig about his poor persecuted 'Tahs, and how they are victimised game after game after game...  Hell's bells, perhaps one too many tablets eh Phil?  I am sure the Highlanders could roll the season back to the first game when they were robbed twice against teh Reds, and lost.  Or the game mentioned above, the Stormers would be even dirtier!

Anyway, methinks the Waratahs will win.  They're at home, they are not a bad side to be fair, and the Sharks are travelling, which the Boer sides seem to enjoy as much as a half set cement enema. 

That'll give us a final in a weeks time in bloody Sydney, and if that happens, it will take a huge effort from the Hurricanes to win, and I would not back them to do so.  Does that mean I am picking the Waratahs to be the Super 14 Champions in 2008?  Looks that way doesn't it.

I feel dirty...!

Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Kade Poki, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Scott Hamilton, Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Mose Tuiali'i, Richard McCaw (c), Kieran Read, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett.  Reserves: Ti'i Paulo, Ben Franks, Reuben Thorne, Nasi Manu, Kahn Fotuali'i, Stephen Brett, Sean Maitland.

Hurricanes: Cory Jane, Hosea Gear, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford, Willie Ripia, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo (or Chris Masoe), Masoe (or Scott Waldrom), Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton, Jeremy Thrush, Tim Fairbrother, Andrew Hore, John Schwalger. Reserves: Hikawera Elliot, Neemia Tialata, Craig Clarke, Scott Waldrom (or Thomas Waldrom), Alby Mathewson, Jimmy Gopperth, Tamati Ellison.

Waratahs: Sam Norton-Knight, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Lote Tuqiri, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (captain), Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Adam Freier, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Al Manning, Matt Dunning, Will Caldwell, David Lyons, Brett Sheehan, Matt Carraro, Timana Tahu.

Sharks:  Stefan Terblanche, Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Ruan Pienaar, Rory Kockott, Ryan Kankowski, AJ Venter, Jacques Botes, Johann Muller ( Capt ), Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.  Replacements:  Craig Burden, Deon Carstens, Albert van den Berg, Jean Deysel, Epi Taione, Bradley Barritt, Waylon Murray.

*FAB = Future All Black
**FAB2 = Former All Black