Super 14 preview: Semifinal time

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It's make or break time in the Rebel Sport Super 14, with the places up for grabs in next weekend's grand final.

Following 14 weeks of gruelling round-robin play, the top four includes three New Zealand franchises and a sole South African team, the table-topping Bulls.

Play-off action kicks off on Friday night when the Chiefs host the Hurricanes in Hamilton.

It is the Chiefs' second time in the semis, and just their first-ever home play-off.

The action then heads to South Africa in the early hours of Sunday morning when the Bulls host the defending champion Crusaders.

Here is how the semifinals shape up:

FRIDAY

Chiefs v Hurricanes

Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Kick-off: 7.35pm (New Zealand time)

Referee: Stuart Dickinson

All the noises coming out of the Chiefs have been positive in the build-up to the weekend-opening semifinal, but to get past the Hurricanes for the second time in three weeks will take some doing. Not only are the Canes still stung by the 16-8 loss, the Chiefs are also again battling injury. Centre Richard Kahui and halfback Brendon Leonard are once again sidelined. But perhaps the biggest loss against an All Black-laden front row will be that of the dependable prop Ben May.

It's already been an historic season for the Chiefs. The nine wins achieved so far is the most ever by a Chiefs side, outdoing the previous record of seven, recorded on three occasions, while the side also won six in a row at one point; which was also a best. Now Ian Foster's men have the opportunity to go where no team from the Waikato-based franchise has gone before by qualifying for a maiden Super 14 final.

Standing in the way are the Hurricanes, a side the Chiefs edged by eight points at the same venue turf just two weeks ago, but an opponent that has infinitely more semifinal experience and knowledge than do the Chiefs. While Friday night represents just the second semifinal of the Chiefs' 14-year history, and the second achieved under Foster's stewardship after he guided the side into the playoffs in 2004; the Hurricanes are appearing at this stage of the competition for the sixth time.

Five of them have been achieved during the seven-year coaching reign of Colin Cooper who, like Foster, cracked the semifinals at his first attempt when steering the Canes into the playoffs in 2003.

Although last Friday's 10-7 win over the Brumbies advanced the Chiefs' imposing home record in the Foster Era (2004-09) to 28 wins and a draw from 39 matches; the comforts of home haven't always been an advantage in this particular rivalry. In fact the first six meetings between the two in Super Rugby all fell to the away side. Although the balance has since reverted to the home side, who has won seven of the last eight when these two have played; the Hurricanes did beat the Chiefs 39-32 when they visited Hamilton two years ago.

Last time: Chiefs 16-Hurricanes 8

Round 14 results: Chiefs 10-Brumbies 7, Hurricanes 37-Reds 28

Head to head record: Chiefs 6 wins, Hurricanes 8 wins

At Chiefs home venues: Chiefs 3 wins, Hurricanes 5 wins

Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Dwayne Sweeney, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Toby Morland; 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 James McGougan, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Sona Taumalolo. Reserves: Hika Elliot, Joe Savage, Toby Lynn, Serge Lilo, Brett Goodin, Mike Delany, Sosene Anesi.

Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 David Smith, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Piri Weepu; 8 Rodney So'oialo (c), 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger. Reserves: Ged Robinson, Jacob Ellison, Bryn Evans, Karl Lowe, Alby Mathewson, Jason Kawau, Zac Guilford.

SUNDAY

Bulls v Crusaders

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 1am (NZT)

Referee: Bryce Lawrence

Regardless of how the Crusaders fare on Sunday morning, they should look back on 2009 as season of success. The Crusaders have battled their way through to the semis despite a raft of defections and an injury toll which has repeatedly forced coach Todd Blackadder to dip into the franchise's wider training group. Written off after winning just one of their first five games, to make the semis is a great achievement.

They might have had to scrap all of the way to get there this time after going four weeks without a win early on, but the Crusaders are the Kings of Super Rugby semifinals. By finishing fourth, the Christchurch-based team has advanced to its record 11th semifinal. Ominously for the Bulls, the Crusaders have won at this stage of the championship nine times before, which includes the only previous instance of a fourth-placed finisher knocking over the top qualifier when they toppled the Queensland Reds 28-22 at Brisbane in 1999.

The Crusaders skipper from that night, Todd Blackadder, is now in his first season as the team's coach. The 1999 season also featured the only example to date in Super Rugby of a visiting side to South Africa winning a semifinal. That was the Highlanders, who beat the Stormers 33-18 at Cape Town, before returning to Dunedin the following week to lose the final against the Crusaders. The only chink in the Crusaders semifinal record occurred at the same ground as they will appear on Saturday night, Loftus Versfeld, where the Bulls out-gunned the New Zealanders 27-12 in a try-less semifinal contest two years ago, en-route to winning theirs (& South Africa’s) maiden title.

The whole of South Africa is hoping that lightening will strike the seven-time champions in the same place twice. And the Bulls won't be short on confidence and self belief; with 10 of the current playing staff potentially able to 'back up' after having featured in the corresponding success two years ago.

The Bulls, who are shooting for their second title in three years after beating the Sharks in the final at Durban two years ago, have won all six matches that they have played at Loftus Versfeld this year, and are unbeaten in the last nine at the ground dating back to a 22-50 loss to the Hurricanes in Pretoria on 12 April last year.

Last time: Crusaders 16-Bulls 13

Round 14 results: Bulls 27-Sharks 26, Crusaders16-Blues

Head to head record: Crusaders 11 wins, Bulls 5 wins

In Pretoria: Bulls 4 wins, Crusaders 4 wins

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier,11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuun, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp. Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Rayno Gerber, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Heini Adams, Burton Francis, Gerhard van den Heever.

Crusaders: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Jared Payne, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Adam Whitelock, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Andy Ellis/Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 9 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Kieran Read, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Jason Macdonald, 1 Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Daniel Perrin, Ben Franks, Michael Paterson, George Whitelock, Fotuali'i/Tyson Keats, Colin Slade, Hamish Gard.