Two in the top three and two in the bottom three. That reflects the difference of reasons the South African franchises will want to win their matches this weekend.
While the Bulls and the Stormers will give their all for a win with the view to consolidate their positions, the Sharks (12th) and Lions (13th) are both looking for their first win after four losses.
The Cheetahs have a bye. Of the two top South African sides, the Stormers have the most daunting task -despite the fact that the Hurricanes went down 28-12 to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last weekend.
The visitors from Wellington did enough to win last weekend, but discipline - including two yellow cards - cost them dearly as the Cheetahs slotted eight kicks from eight, including a conversion.
The Stormers can do the same with Joe Pietersen and Peter Grant who up with the best kickers in the game.
The Hurricanes did well to disrupt the Free State scrum at times, and will exploit the fact that the Stormers scrum from time to time looked vulnerable on the loosehead side.
The Hurricanes will certainly also be better in the lineouts where the poor Highlanders side conceded six of their own throws which contributed greatly in their 33-0 thrashing at Newlands last weekend.
With last week producing their only try bonus point from four outings, the Stormers must start increasing their try tally to get on the same keel as their defence, which has been outstanding.
In their four matches, the Stormers have conceded only 38 points - 46 less than the second-best misers Crusaders - and two tries.
There was a greater preparedness to take the ball wide, and that should be repeated with the better distribution skills if not always best options, from scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage.
And while the midfield clash of players like Ma'a Nonu and Jaque Fourie will be wonderful to watch, the line breaks will probably be few and far between - and the Stormers can prepare themselves for the little stab-kicks the Canes will use to break their defence. It will be a cracker.
Two good packs, two good sets of loose forwards, and two classy backlines could make this the spectacle of the weekend.
- The Bulls, so believes their coach Frans Ludeke, will improve on their three outings thus far. They had a bye last weekend and this will stand them in good stead against the Highlanders at Loftus, he believes.
With a five-forward bench including two loosies of the calibre of Deon Stegmann and Pedrie Wannenburg, they should be good enough to win the loose ball battle against John Hardie, Alando Soakai.
In the lineouts the Highlanders will probably be worse off than last weekend in Cape Town, and the Bulls scrum is going from strength to strength.
The Bulls scored three consecutive fifties - including last year's final against the Chiefs - followed by 48 points against the Waratahs, and another could be on their way for this team without any obvious weaknesses.
- Whereto the Sharks? Denied by a cruel refereeing decision last weekend against the Waratahs, John Smit's men simply have to start taking their chances - and stop silly infringements that are driving their coach John Plumtree to desperation.
Three tries in four matches and only 65 points for - with only the Western Force (56) and Highlanders (63) having scored less - tell a story that must be as chilling for Springbok coach Peter de Villiers who has a nucleus of his Test side involved with the Sharks as for the KZN team themselves.
Two yellow cards in two outings by England flyhalf Andy Goode, poor handling and decision-making and something nobody can or is willing to discuss as the main reason for their struggling do not tell the tale of a happy side.
Add to that the fact that the Durban franchise has won only one of their last eight matches against the Brumbies in Canberra, and their challenge this weekend is clear.
- Lions coach Dick Muir believes a little more self-confidence and also the odd bit of luck will see his side record a first victory when they play the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday. The Sydney team struggled in South Africa and could have been beaten by the Sharks.
The Lions what brought out big guns they still have - and the return of Jano Vermaak, even on the bench, could be influential in their upsetting a side that has been stuttering along with their relatively good defence probably their biggest strength.
- The Chiefs and Crusaders start off the weekend's matches on Friday morning. The Chiefs were rolled over by the Reds last weekend, while Crusaders are starting to look a class act.
This match could be decided by home ground advantage, which would see the Chiefs remain around the top of the log and Crusaders drop off slightly. But then, a Saders away win with the indomitable Dan Carter again in prime form this season, will see the dominant Super Rugby side over the years start flexing their collective muscles.
- On Sunday, the Reds are at home to the Western Force, still with more than their quota of injuries. The Reds are difficult to gauge. They're very good when they're good, or lethargic when they lose concentration.
However, at home they should push their winning ratio to three from five and maintain contact with the front-runners.
This weekend's matches are (home sides first, SA times):
Friday:
Chiefs v Crusaders, 8.35am;
Waratahs v Lions, 10.40am.
Saturday:
Brumbies v The Sharks, 10.40am;
Bulls v Highlanders, 5.05pm;
Stormers v Hurricanes, 7.10pm.
Sunday:
Reds v Western Force, 8.30am.
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