Rugby: Canes go after home advantage

Saturday's 32-24 victory over the Sharks in Wellington showed the Hurricanes have the ability to grind out a result when they needed to. Photo / Getty Images

Bring on the Chiefs. The Hurricanes keep rolling, they've won 10 from 11, sit atop the Super Rugby standings and can start planning a playoff appearance.

But the final five weeks of the regular season won't be easy and that includes home-and-away clashes with the Chiefs and the home leg will be at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.

The Hurricanes have a 10-point lead over the Chiefs at the top of the New Zealand conference but if they don't earn home advantage for the playoffs, this week's game would be the last at the Cake Tin for any departing Hurricanes.

Skipper Conrad Smith is playing his final season in the yellow jersey and he wants at least one more appearance at his home ground before he heads to France after the World Cup. "I'd like to think we keep doing the business and get to come back here with a playoff game," Smith said.

"That would be a massive motivator to me. I'm pretty sure there'll be a good crowd for us [against the Chiefs on Saturday] and we've obviously got some pretty big aspirations as a group.

"I think history shows you want to be up the top end, you don't want to just make the playoffs and I think that's what we've got to be thinking about."

Saturday's 32-24 victory over the Sharks in Wellington wasn't one of their finest performances of the season but the Hurricanes showed the ability to grind out a result when they needed to.

"I was impressed with the composure," Smith said.

Without first five Beauden Barrett (knee), James Marshall did an admirable job filling in and he will only improve in the coming weeks as he gets more comfortable with his surroundings.

Coach Chris Boyd also took the chance to rest halfback TJ Perenara and wing Julian Savea and there's a collection of All Blacks who still need to sit out another game as the season progresses, including Smith and second five Ma'a Nonu.

It's unlikely the Hurricanes will rest any internationals against the Chiefs considering they could put further space between them and their closest rivals with a win this weekend.

Despite not having the attacking thrust of Perenara and Savea, the Hurricanes were still able to bag a four-try bonus point against the Sharks, who suffered their eighth loss of the season, which is likely to have killed off their playoff aspirations.

"I'm delighted to have come away with five points," Boyd said.