The Highlanders have been left with work to do to sneak into the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals following the Hurricanes' surprise loss to the Force in Perth last night.
The Force needed a win in their regular season finale to give themselves a shot at eighth place, and did it by upsetting the Canes 27-22 after leading at halftime.
It puts the Force (4-10) a point ahead of the Highlanders in eighth, with the Kiwi side now needing a point from their final match against the Rebels in Melbourne today to earn a quarter against the Blues next Saturday night in Auckland.
It was the Canes' second defeat in their last six matches, which sees them finish at 8-6 on 39 points, a point ahead of nearest pursuers the Waratahs.
The Blues, who sealed top spot last week, put out a second string side against the Waratahs in Sydney but still managed a last-gasp 20-17 win to extend their winning streak to 13 games.