Messam will miss tomorrow night's game against the Highlanders after a knock to his left shoulder during last weekend's win over the Bulls.

With three rounds of the Super Rugby regular competition remaining, our experts answer some of the vital questions that will define the season.

It's taken time but the Hurricanes are more than competitive and have led the charge in the competition this year with 12 wins from 13 games under new coach Chris Boyd.

With three rounds to go in Super Rugby, the Herald checks out the remaining contenders and rates their title chances.

Conrad Smith can board a plane to France at the end of the year knowing the future of the Hurricanes is in safe hands.

The clock is yet to strike midnight on Ross Filipo's fairytale return to the Chiefs.

After presiding over the departures of a growing number of talented young men from the game, NZ Rugby boss Steve Tew will today announce some good news - the signings of Brodie Retallick and Julian Savea.

There are three weeks to go in Super Rugby's regular season and few things about the playoff picture are clear given 10 teams are still in the hunt to claim six spots.

Over the course of 68 immaculate minutes from Augustine Pulu, the Chiefs' halfback picture became much murkier.

The Crusaders' Super Rugby season has been a disappointment - a team with seven losses doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs.

As the wind and rain continued to lash Auckland on Saturday, Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd gave a simple message to his team ahead of their match against the Blues.

The Western Force might be able to upset the apple cart for other Australian Super Rugby franchises in the run to the playoffs.

James O'Connor won't bear the burden of blame on his own for the Reds' deflating 21-14 defeat to the Sharks on Friday.

The Crusaders will almost certainly miss the playoffs for the first time since 2001 after last night suffering their seventh loss of an insipid season.

Sir John Kirwan's supporters on the Blues board will be cringing after the depleted Hurricanes smashed the Super Rugby basket case at their alleged fortress.

Credit to the Blues that in losing their perfect Eden Park record this season, they did, at least, do it in style.

Those Hurricanes supporters wondering whether their team have the complete game to go deep into this competition, if not win it, can rest assured.