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Deputy Editor, espn.com.au- Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPN after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia's digital rugby coverage.
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Special to ESPN- John Goliath is a long-suffering Tottenham Hotspur fan, who likes to watch running rugby on sunny days at Newlands. He also wishes he could hit low stingers off the tee like Tiger Woods.
Just three rounds remain in Super Rugby's regular season with the competition resuming after the June Test break.
All three conference titles are still to be decided, though it is Australia where most of the intrigue lies.
The three conference champions advance to the playoffs as the No.1, 2 and 3 seeds according to their final points tally with the next five highest placed teams earning wildcard places.
We've had a look at each of the contenders' run home to settle on the eight seeds for the playoffs.
CRUSADERS: 54 points (first NZ Conference, first overall)
Run home: Bye, Highlanders (H), Blues (H)
Nine points clear at the top of the table, the Crusaders have shortened into $1.70 favourites with bookmakers tab.com.au for this year's title. Unbeaten in their last 10 games, Scott Robertson's side have again shown their ability to win the close ones, while also negotiating a tough run with injury and suspension. Only a final fortnight meltdown will see them miss out on top spot. Given they haven't been beaten in Christchurch for 15 games, a second straight- and ninth title overall- beckons.
Key injuries: The news gets better for the Crusaders with All Blacks skipper Kieran Read finally returning from injury in a Mitre 10 Cup preseason match for Counties Manekau on Wednesday. He was joined by Jordan Taufua, who missed the entire June Test series after winning All Blacks squad selection for the first time.
Predicted finish: 63 points (No.1 seed)
LIONS: 40 points (first in RSA, second overall)
Run home: Sharks (A), Bye, Bulls (H)
While the Lions enter the home stretch with a six-point lead over the Jaguares in the fight for the top spot in the South African Conference, they will be wary of slipping up in their remaining matches in this campaign. The Johannesburg side have played one more fixture than their rivals from Argentina and face two tough South African derbies before the end of the round-robin stage. The Lions have been unable to replicate their stunning performances over the last two years, but will back themselves to retain their South African conference title.
Key injuries: The Lions welcome back captain Warren Whiteley and the outstanding Malcolm Marx for the last two fixtures. They also seem likely to have Cyle Brink, Lionel Mapoe, Ross Cronje and Courtnall Skosan back in action before the start of the playoffs.
Predicted finish: 49 points (No.2 seed)
WARATAHS: 35 points (first in Aus, third overall)
Run home: Rebels (A), Sunwolves (H), Brumbies (H)
The Waratahs can put one hand on the Australian conference with a win in Melbourne on Friday night, but NSW may just have second spot overall in their sights given they have a game in hand on the Lions. Of course, they still currently trail the Hurricanes, Highlanders and Chiefs as well; but the vagaries of the Super Rugby ladder should have Daryl Gibson's side up and about. Their form before the June break was mixed with victories over the Highlanders and Reds, dotted around narrow defeats by the Crusaders and Chiefs.
Key injuries: The next few weeks will be brutal viewing for skipper Michael Hooper after he picked up a hamstring injury in the final Test against Ireland in Sydney. The tireless Tahs leader will not play again before the finals, which means all Hooper can do is sit and hope. Ned Hanigan is back from injury, though, and NSW are otherwise in good roster shape.
Predicted finish: 45 points (No.3 seed)
HURRICANES: 45 points (Second in NZ, fourth overall)
Run home: Brumbies (A), Blues (H), Chiefs (A)
The June break could not have come at a better time for the Hurricanes who had lost their way slightly during the final fortnight before the Test interval. Losses to the Crusaders and Highlanders, and a narrow win over the battling Reds, were hardly the efforts of a title contender nor the classy performances they had shown earlier in the year. Their run to the playoffs isn't exactly easy either, with testing away trips to Canberra and Hamilton anything but guaranteed victories. The final-round showdown with the Chiefs could prove pivotal.
Key injuries: While the Crusaders came through the June series relatively unscathed, the 2016 champions are cursing their luck with Ardie Savea out for potentially the rest of the regular season. The news is worse still for centre Matt Proctor whose season is over, while Beauden Barrett and Vaea Fifita miss a week with concussion.
Predicted finish: 53 points (No.4 seed)
HIGHLANDERS: 40 (third in NZ, fifth overall)
Run home: Chiefs (Suva), Crusaders (A), Rebels (H)
The Highlanders produced one of their best performances of the season in taking down the Hurricanes 30-14 in Dunedin four weeks ago. It was timely, too, given their disastrous showing in Sydney and a less than convincing victory in Brisbane a week later. The 2015 champions remain firmly in the playoff mix but Saturday's clash with the Chiefs in Suva will be vital; taking the game away from Forysth Barr Stadium to a venue where the Chiefs have already built a fanbase looks risky.
Key injuries: All Blacks back-rower Liam Squire is the only high-profile name on the Highlanders' rehab list after he injured his shoulder during the second Test with France. Fortunately, coach Aaron Mauger has excellent back-row cover in the likes of Elliot Dixon and recent Test debutant Shannon Frizell.
Predicted finish: 46 points (No.6 seed)
CHIEFS: 37 points (fourth in NZ, sixth overall)
Run home: Highlanders (Suva), Brumbies (H), Hurricanes (H)
Can the sparkling Test form of Damian McKenzie be a catalyst for a late-season Chiefs surge? It's not beyond the realms of possibility, considering the brilliance the All Blacks utility showed first off the bench, and then at No.10, against France. Saturday's trip to Suva should hold few fears, too, given they have hosted home fixtures at the same venue the last two years. Still, the Chiefs have lacked consistency this season which could see them slip up in the final round at home to the Canes.
Key injuries: Colin Cooper will be without Brodie Retallick for this week's trip to Fiji, but he could return sooner than first expected from the pectoral injury that saw him miss all three Tests against Les Bleus. They do however have some problems in the front-row with Nepo Laulala still battling a broken arm while Kane Hames and Mitchell Graham are longer-term concerns. Hooker Nathan Harris is also sidelined but for a different reason: his wife gave birth to their first child last week.
Predicted finish: 47 points (No.5 seed)
REBELS: 34 points (second in Aus, seventh overall)
Run home: Waratahs (H), Reds (A), Highlanders (A)
A grinding win over the Blues in Auckland, a first Aussie triumph on NZ soil in 32 games, could well turn out to be the tipping point for a maiden Rebels finals appearance. While many expected them to improve significantly given the influx of talent and addition of coach Dave Wessels, their playoff hopes looked fried when star Wallabies No.9 Will Genia went down with a knee injury. But last season's wooden-spooners rallied with three straight wins in Genia's absence, meaning six points from their final three games might be enough to see them secure a place in the top eight.
Key injuries: It's a case of deja-vu for the Rebels with Genia again sidelined after he left the field during the second Test with Ireland due to a broken arm. Genia will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season while skipper Adam Coleman is another casualty, but is only expected to miss the visit from the Tahs.
Predicted finish: 39 points (No.8 seed)
JAGUARES: 34 points (second in RSA, eighth overall)
Run home: Stormers (H), Bulls (A), Sharks (A)
The South Americans will back themselves to see off the struggling Stormers at home, maybe even with a bonus point. However, they have to travel to South Africa for their two remaining fixtures against the Bulls and Sharks. They will likely need to win one of those matches to earn their spot in the top eight. However, they still have an outside chance of finishing top of the South African conference if they win all their remaining matches and the Lions slip up in their last two fixtures.
Key injuries: Julian Montoya and Marcos Kremer were not able to train for most of this week and are in doubt for the Stormers clash. However, Matias Moroni and Tomas Cubelli are back for the Jaguares in their push for a playoff berth.
Predicted finish: 42 points (No.7 seed)
SHARKS: 28 POINTS (third in RSA, ninth overall)
Run home: Lions (H), Stormers (A), Jaguares (H)
The Sharks have shot themselves in the foot this season with their inconsistent displays. They have produced some of their best rugby when playing the New Zealand teams, while they have a surprisingly average record against Australian sides and against their South African counterparts. The Sharks' destiny is not in in their own hands going into the last three weeks of the campaign, but they are playing one of their wildcard rivals, the Jaguares, in their final match of the regular season.
Key injuries: The international break gave the Sharks a chance to regroup and take care of some injuries. They largely have a clean bill of health and will be hoping their Springboks aren't too tired after the series win over England.
Predicted finish: 36 points (third in RSA, miss finals)