A pair of rematches highlights the semifinal draw in the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership, while Otago sit in the box seat in their quest for promotion from the Championship.
After the 10th and final round was completed today and all playoff places were confirmed, Canterbury remained on course to win their eighth provincial title in nine years, although their semifinal opponents have recent history of success against the red and blacks.
It's very recent, in fact. Counties Manukau upset Canterbury on Saturday to book their finals berth, but given the defending champions had already sealed top spot, only one team had anything at stake at ECOLight Stadium in Pukekohe.
That will be different at AMI Stadium next Sunday afternoon, where coach Scott Robertson's men will be confident of prolonging a season in which they lost just twice while recording the best attack and best defence in the competition.
If Canterbury clinch a home final, the unenviable task of toppling them will fall to either Taranaki or Tasman. And in a replay of the 2014 final won by the amber and blacks, favouritism will be tough to assign in the second semifinal.
