The Super Rugby Pacific tournament has confirmed the eight teams that have qualified for the quarterfinals and the matches that will be played on Friday and Saturday.
The final and eighth position on the table was not confirmed until the very last match of the regular season when the Highlanders secured a losing bonus point in a 30-31 defeat to the Rebels in Melbourne.
The one-point loss by the Highlanders edged out the Western Force for the last quarter-final place because of better points difference from all matches.
The table-topping Blues will play the Highlanders at Eden Park in Auckland in the only all New Zealand clash of the playoffs at 7.05pm Saturday.
The 10-times champions Crusaders host the Queensland Reds in the first Trans-Tasman knockout match of the weekend at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch at 7.05pm Friday.
The tournament moves to Hamilton in Waikato where the Chiefs meet the Waratahs at FMG Stadium at 4.35pm Saturday.
Finally, the last quarter-final is at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Australia, where the Brumbies play the Hurricanes at 9.45pm Saturday.
