Blues: It's time to make the play-offs more Super

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Out-going Blues top-brass have added their voices to calls for a re-jigged and enlarged Super 14 play-off structure.

Coach David Nucifora and captain Troy Flavell, both set to quit New Zealand rugby, have expressed their desire for the play-off stages to be increased to a six-team format.

The Blues face a nervous wait until the early hours of Sunday morning to see if they have made the top four. The same applies to the Hurricanes, who they beat 19-17 at Eden Park on Friday.

Sanzar officials are presently reviewing the format of the competition post-2010.

There have also been suggestions a re-jigged play-offs structure could be introduced as early as next season.

And as Nucifora prepares to return across Tasman, he said a new six-team set-up was the way to go.

"Certainly, I think it needs to be looked at," Nucifora said.

"This competition is too tough, it is one of the toughest in the world as people keep saying because of all the extraordinary factors that go into making it up.

"The fact of tonight is that both teams (the Blues and Hurricanes) could miss out on the semifinals. And I think that would be a shame.

"Both teams probably deserve to be in the finals.

"People spoke about it being a quarter-final and you saw the intensity of that game. You saw the crowds out there.

"That is probably as good an advertisement for an expanded finals format as you could see.

"Four teams out of a 14-team competition is tough. And it comes down to this every year.

"Probably a six-teams finals play-off would be a better scenario and outcome. And I think people would see some great football in a six-team finals race."

Added Flavell: "I would have to agree with Nucie.

"There is not much room for error, it would be nice.

"Teams tend to lift their game, lift their performance, and it would be great for the spectators."

On Friday Western Force captain Nathan Sharpe also added his voice to calls for a new finals format.

Sharpe's side have ended their season with a 29-22 win over the Brumbies in Perth.

The result has moved them up to eighth on the points table.

"A team might miss out by one or two points or whatever it is, and regard that season as not as successful as what they would have liked," he said.

"But if you can open it up to a six-team format, there's certainly more intensity required to take the championship.

"When you come down to the last round, and I'm not too sure how many teams are still capable of making the finals, you'd probably like to see a bit more reward for teams that are close to the top."