The Hurricanes and Chiefs are both confident they can buck Super Rugby history by winning semi-finals on the road.
The Chiefs celebrate victory over Stormers Photo: Photosport
The Hurricanes beat the Brumbies 35-16 in their quarter-final playoff in Canberra while the Chiefs secured their semi-final berth by getting past the Stormers 17-11 in Capetown overnight.
Both teams will virtually cross paths over the Indian Ocean as they prepare to challenge the competitions top qualifiers - well aware that history rarely favours travelling play-off teams.
The Chiefs must return to New Zealand to face the Crusaders in Christchurch while a slog from Sydney to Johannesburg confronts the Hurricanes, who must topple the Lions after accounting for the Brumbies 35-16 in Canberra on Friday.
The four leading teams on the overall standings are through, having tallied just seven losses between them, setting up two keenly awaited clashes.
The Lions barely justified their No.1 ranking, needing a long-range penalty in the final minute from Ruan Combrinck to see off the unfancied Sharks 23-21.
The defending champion Hurricanes may be heartened by the South African powerhouse's apparent struggles and will hope to close them down, as they did in last year's final in Wellington.
Still to face a New Zealand team this year, the Lions could also find the extra pace of the game an issue.
However, 12 months ago the Lions dispatched both the Crusaders and Highlanders in fast-paced home play-off matches, running up 42 points on both occasions.
The Chiefs have won on their last three visits to Christchurch although coach Dave Rennie was impressed by the Crusaders' 17-0 demolition of the Highlanders.
"I thought their pack was incredibly dominant and that's going to be a challenge for us," he said.
SEMI-FINALS
Saturday: Crusaders v Chiefs, in Christchurch, 7.35pm
Sunday: Lions v Hurricanes, in Johannesburg, 12.30am.
AAP
