The Super Rugby Pacific finals makeup has been decided, with four Kiwi sides and two Australian sides set to do battle on both sides of the Tasman to decide which two sides will meet in the 2025 decider.
The Chiefs, Crusaders, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Reds and Blues will each have different challenges to overcome - as with a reduction in finals positions, the formatting of the finals changes as well.
Watch every game of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
Unlike a quarter final schedule, which sees eight sides transition into four for semi finals, qualifying finals will see six go into four - with the two lowest ranked losing sides from the qualifying round dropping out.
Off the back of the qualifying round results, a new ranking order will be selected for the semi finals - with the two highest ranked winners earning home semi-finals.
All three winners from the three qualifying matches progress through to semis, no matter their current ranking. The last semi final place will go to the highest ranked losing side - however, they will be penalised one 'ranking position'.
For example, if the second-placed Crusaders lose to the Reds and the Chiefs defeat the Blues, the Crusaders will be the highest ranked loser in the qualifying finals round, meaning they will still participate in the semis due to finishing in the top two during the regular season.
However, the loss means they will drop one ranking position to third - meaning their loss in the qualifying round will cost them a home semi final.
Once the four semi finals positions are confirmed, the format reverts to the same format as previous Super Rugby seasons, with the two highest ranked winners earning a home semi final, with the two remaining sides travelling to face them.
So, what could this finals run potentially look like for every side?
Rugby.com.au gives you a complete makeup of every possible finals scenario, what the new finals schedule looks like - and what the path looks like for each team.
Obviously, like with any knockout set up, the best case scenario is for your team to win all games - but where your side finished in the regular season plays a critical part in the qualifying finals format.
Being at the bottom of the finals rankings, current defending champions the Blues will have the hardest challenge of all the finals sides - not only must they win all games, their ranking means they will have to travel away for all finals games.
A win over the Chiefs would see the Blues travel to face the highest ranked winner for the semi finals - which could be any side ranked above them, pending results. Lose, and their season is done.
Losing fourth place to the Hurricanes a few weeks ago has come back to bite the Reds - with the Sunshine State now in the same boat as the Blues in being in one of the two lower spots of the finals set up.
Like the Blues, their lower ranking means that they will likely have to travel away for all their finals games.
However, there is a remote possibility, pending other results, the Reds could actually host the final - they and the Blues need to both go on an almighty winning away streak, defeating all the higher ranked sides on home soil. Should they be the last two standing after the semi finals, the final will shift to Suncorp Stadium, with the Reds the higher ranked side.
This scenario will require the Reds to pull off several historic wins - though not impossible, given they have defeated the likes of the Crusaders and Chiefs on home soil in the last three seasons.
The Reds will face the Crusaders in Christchurch for their qualifying round. If they lose, their season is over as one of the two lowest ranked sides.
However, should they manage a win, the Reds will face the highest ranked seed in the Chiefs (if the Hamilton side win). If the Chiefs lose to the Blues, the Reds will face the winner of the Brumbies-Hurricanes clash in the semis.
Now we start to enter the more complex part of the ladder - one where the difference between finishing in fifth and finishing in fourth becomes massive - and the Brumbies and Hurricanes will be keeping a close watch on the previous two games.
If the Crusaders and Chiefs win their games - knocking the Blues and Reds out of contention in the process - the match in Canberra almost becomes a dead rubber, with both sides having already qualified for the semi finals due to finishing third and fourth. Whoever wins in Canberra determines who travels where, with the winner going to Christchurch and the loser going to Hamilton.
However, should the Crusaders and Chiefs both lose, things get very interesting, very quickly.
The Chiefs would still qualify for a home semi regardless of a win or loss, as they finished in first - but a Crusaders loss would mean the Hurricanes could earn a home semi final if they beat the Brumbies, as they would be the other highest ranked winner. The Chiefs would host the other semi, meaning the Canes could host the Reds or Blues, potentially lining them up for a tilt at the title.
Lose in this scenario in Canberra, and they would be among the two lowest ranked sides to lose, and would be eliminated.
A Chiefs loss, but Crusaders win would mean the Hurricanes would have to travel for their semi final, even if they win in Canberra. Lose in this scenario, and the season is over.
The Brumbies sit in a similar position to the Hurricanes, with them also keeping an eye on the earlier fixtures.
Should the Crusaders and Chiefs win, the match in Canberra decides who goes where - with both sides already qualified for semis.
But similarly, should the top two seeds both lose, the Brumbies could find themselves in the hunt to reclaim a home semi final if they defeat the Hurricanes.
Even just a Crusaders loss would be ideal for the Brumbies, regardless of the result in Hamilton - with the Chiefs guaranteed a home semi final, the Brumbies could host the other home semi final against either the Crusaders, Reds or Blues.
A Crusaders and/or Chiefs loss, however, could also be a double-edged sword.
The Brumbies could be eliminated in this scenario if they in turn lose to the Hurricanes - as only the highest ranked losing side progresses to semi finals.
If the Crusaders win and Chiefs lose, the Brumbies will have to travel for the semi finals regardless, but will need to beat the Hurricanes to stay in the hunt. Lose, and they stay home.
Things become a little simpler near the top of the rankings - the higher ranked you are, the more likely to feature in semis, regardless of a win or loss.
Should the Crusaders win over the Reds, a home semi is secured against any of the teams below them regardless of other results.
Lose, however, and they will be hoping the Chiefs prevail over the Blues in Hamilton.
Should the Chiefs win, the Crusaders will be guaranteed a semi finals spot, as they will automatically qualify as the highest ranked losing side - but they will have sacrificed a home semi final in the process.
If the Chiefs lose in this scenario, incredibly, the Crusaders will be eliminated. The Chiefs will become the highest ranked losing side in this scenario - meaning the men from Christchurch would bow out with whoever loses out of the Brumbies-Hurricanes clash.
For the Chiefs, not only are they guaranteed a home qualifying final, but a home semi final too, regardless of whether they win or lose.
Being the top ranked seed, a loss to the Blues would see them drop to second in the semi finals rankings as a result of being penalised one 'ranking position' - meaning that, regardless of other results, the Chiefs will still have a home semi final.
However, a loss in the qualifying round would be far from ideal from the men from Hamilton, as it opens up the risk for them to potentially lose hosting rights for the final.
By contrast, if they defeat the Blues, they come into the semis as the top ranked side, with a home semi final and final hosting rights guaranteed if they win.
