Taranaki played well to qualify fourth last season but because of the World Cup, there was a straight final and no semis.
The team's main scalp this year was repelling Canterbury's Shield challenge but there were losses to Auckland (43-32) and to Waikato (46-10 for the Shield).
That Shield victory was the consolation for a disappointing Waikato season with the Mooloo Men, national champions in 2006, missing out on the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
Canterbury have been the dominant force in provincial rugby for the past five seasons, claiming the ITM title in 2011, 2010, 2009 (28-20 v Wellington) and 2008 (7-6 v Wellington) after finishing third in 2007 and fifth in 2006.
This year, the Cantabrians have dropped just two matches - a shock 20-25 to Tasman at Nelson on opening day and 9-18 in the Shield challenge - but with Tom Taylor kicking well and Johnny McNicholl in fine try-scoring form, the Red and Blacks have disposed of Auckland 33-11, North Harbour 36-3, Wellington 20-12, Southland 84-0 and Bay of Plenty 63-22 at home and picked up away wins over Waikato 52-27, Northland 56-11 and Hawke's Bay 44-3.
It will take a great effort to deprive Canterbury of a fifth straight national title.
Since beating Wellington 23-14 in the 2007 final at Eden Park, Auckland have been a disappointment, only reaching the playoffs once, in 2010.
With the largest player catchment in the country, Auckland have frustrated their fans, with fifth place in 2009, seventh last year and 11th in 2008.
After a flop last season, finishing eighth, Wellington have rebounded back into the playoffs, qualifying second and facing Auckland in the semifinals.
Consistent Wellington reached the semis in the first five years of the Championship (2006-2010).
To qualify for this year's playoffs Wellington have beaten Hawke's Bay 30-15, Southland 40-8, Waikato 29-13, North Harbour 34-28 and Taranaki 33-17 at the Cake Tin and Manawatu 30-11, Bay of Plenty 36-26 and Otago 49-22 on the road.
Their only two defeats have been away to fellow semifinalists Canterbury (12-20) and Auckland (30-43).
Counties-Manukau and Otago host ITM Championship semis this weekend and will start as favourites to repeat their qualifying successes - Counties 30-9 v Southland and Otago 39-13 v Tasman - at the same venues against their opponents.