Saturday, June 20

Highlanders v Chiefs, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Head-to-head: Played 25, Highlanders 10, Chiefs 15

In Dunedin: Played 12, Highlanders 5, Chiefs 7

Last Clash: Round 16, 2015 - Highlanders 36-9 Chiefs, Dunedin

Key Stats (Opta Stats)

• The Highlanders have won their last four in a row at home, with three of those wins coming by 18 points or more. Despite losing on their last two trips to Dunedin, the Chiefs had won six of their seven away meetings against the Highlanders before that.
• Both these sides have played in the Qualifier once before, with both losing by fewer than five points last year.The Chiefs however have won five of their eight games overall when they have made it to the post-season, while the Highlanders have won just one of six whichcame in the 1999 Semi-Final-their most recent Finals Series match in Dunedin.
• Only the Brumbies conceded fewer tries than the Chiefs this season (27), while only two sides scored more tries than the Highlanders (54).

Line-ups

• Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-capt), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Richard Buckman, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith; Nasi Manu (co-capt), Dan Pryor, Elliot Dixon; Mark Reddish, Alex Ainley; Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman, Brendon Edmonds. Replacements: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ross Geldenhuys, Joe Latta, Gareth Evans, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Shaun Treeby
• Chiefs:Damian McKenzie, Bryce Heem, Tim Nanai-Williams, Sonny Bill Williams, James Lowe, Andrew Horrell, Brad Weber; Liam Messam, Sam Cane, Michael Fitzgerald; Brodie Retallick, Matt Symons, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu. Replacements: Quentin MacDonald, Siate Tokolahi, Jamie Mackintosh, Mitchell Crosswell, Michael Leitch, Kane Hammington, Marty McKenzie, Seta Tamanivalu.

Malakai Fekitoa returns at outside-centre after missing Round 18 through injury © Getty Images

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Injuries/Unavailable

• Highlanders: Shane Christie (Hamstring, Indefinite), Kane Hames (Knee, Indefinite), Hayden Parker (Shoulder, Indefinite), Josh Renton (Hamstring, Indefinite), Joe Wheeler (Knee, Season)
• Chiefs: Michael Allardice (MCL, Season), Johan Bardoul (MCL, Season), Aaron Cruden (ACL, Season), Nathan Harris (Ankle, Indefinite), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (ACL, Season), Tevita Koloamatangi (Ankle, Season), Augustine Pulu (Fractured Forearm, Season)

Team News

• The Highlanders have been boosted for their second straight finals campaign by the return of three key players, including All Blacks star Malakai Fekitoa . Co-Captain Nasi Manu also returns from injury at No.8 while hard-working lock Mark Reddish will pack down alongside Alex Ainley in the second-row.
• The Chiefs have decided to go with experience at No.10 with utility Andrew Horrell coming in at fly-half in place of Marty McKenzie. There is one member of the McKenzie family in the run-on side however; Damian starting at full-back after a couple of weeks on the bench. The other change sees Tim Nanai-Williams replace the in-form Charlie Ngatai at outside-centre after he failed to overcome a bout of concussion. The Chiefs have been boosted up front by the return of All Blacks Sam Cane and Hika Elliot.

Greg Growden's Verdict: Experience is so crucial at finals time, and this is where the Chiefs has a decided edge. Home ground advantage will help the Highlanders, but the strength of the Chiefs scrum should be a more important factor.

Tips - Greg Growden: Chiefs by 3 Sam Bruce: Highlanders Brett McKay: Highlanders Brittany Mitchell: Highlanders

Sam Cane is back in the Chiefs side at No.7 © Getty Images

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Stormers v Brumbies, Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

Head-to-head: Played 17, Stormers 5, Brumbies 11, Drawn 1

In Cape Town: Played 9, Stormers 4, Brumbies 4

Last Clash: Round 13, 2015 - Stormers 25-24 Brumbies, Cape Town

Key Stats (Opta Stats)

• The Stormers are unbeaten in their last five home games, and have won seven of their last eight when hosting Australian sides. The South African side has won three of their last four meetings with the Brumbies; before that they had won just one in 12 against the Canberra-based outfit.
• The Brumbies have lost three of their last four away games in South Africa over the last two seasons
• The Canberra side has won two out of two in the Qualifiers and this is the third year in a row they have played in this stage. The Stormers have lost five of their six games when reaching the post-season stage, however this will be their first appearance in the Qualifiers.

Line-ups

• Stormers: Cheslin Kolbe, Dillyn Leyds, Juan de Jongh, Damian de Allende, Seabelo Senatla, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom; Nizaam Carr, Siya Kolisi, Schalk Burger, Manuel Carizza, Eben Etzebeth; Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitsoff. Replacements: Scarra Ntubeni, Ali Vermaak, Vincent Koch, Jean Kleyn, Michael Rhodes, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Jaco Taute.
• Brumbies: Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane, Christian Leali'ifano, Nic White, Ita Vaea, David Pockock, Scott Fardy, Blake Enever, Rory Arnold, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore (c), Scott Sio. Replacements: Josh Mann-Rea, Allan Alaalatoa, Ruan Smith, Jordan Smiler, Jarrad Butler, Michael Dowsett, Robbie Coleman, Nigel Ah Wong, Les Makin, Nigel Ah Wong.

Injuries/Unavailable

• Stormers: Jean de Villiers (ACL, Season), Rynhardt Elstadt (Fractured Fibula, Season), Duane Vermeulen (Neck, TBA)
• Brumbies: Sam Carter (Medial, Season).

Team News

• Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has reinstated his first-choice line-up after resting a whopping 12 players against the Sharks last weekend. Centre Juan de Jongh will reclaim the captaincy in midfield and partner the powerful Damian de Allende while Nic Groom and Demetri Catrakilis have been preferred at half-back and fly-half, respectively. The biggest omission comes in the form of Springboks No.8 Duane Vermeulen, the back-rower still yet to shake off a neck injury.
• Brumbies openside David Pocock has passed the Return to Play concussion protocols and will take his place at No.7 this week. Wallabies inside-centre Matt Toomua will has been promoted from the bench to take his place at No.12 with Robbie Coleman reverting to the bench.

David Pocock has been the driving force at the back of the Brumbies maul this season © Getty Images

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Greg Growden's Verdict: If the Brumbies are to be any chance, David Pocock has to play. But concussion concerns makes him an uncertain factor, and without him, the Brumbies are a far inferior beast. As well the Brumbies in recent weeks have become very predictable, relying too heavily on rolling mauls and wasting their backline resources. But the loss of Stormers skipper Duane Vermeulen is the big one. The Stormers without Vermeulen are far inferior.

Tips - Greg Growden: Brumbies by 1 Sam Bruce: Stormers Brett McKay: Brumbies Brittany Mitchell: Brumbies