We are edging closer to the halfway mark of the tournament and several teams have emerged as possible Super 14 playoff contenders.

The Cheetahs will again face a tough challenge when they take on the Blues in Albany while the Aussie derby between the Brumbies and the Waratahs is sure to deliver some fireworks in Canberra.

With the Bulls off duty due to the bye, the Waratahs could claim top spot in the rankings if they can register their fifth straight win. They will not find this an easy assignment given that they've only won once previously in Canberra since Super Rugby began.

iafrica.com previews Friday's action.

Blues vs Cheetahs
(Albany Stadium - 19.35, 06:35 GMT)

The Cheetahs might be at the bottom of the log but they are a capable combination and the Blues will have to make sure they are not their first victim this season.

The Cheetahs, who are now the only team still to register a win in this year?s championship, face the Blues and the Highlanders in their final two weeks away and will give themselves some chance of improving their diabolical touring record.

"It is important we impose our game on them because they showed against the Hurricanes they could provide trouble and we can't afford to make mistakes against them," Blues coach Pat Lam said.

"We have to make sure our basics are done well first and that starts from our set piece and goes on to the responsibility of everyone thinking how do we look after this ball to continue the movement rather than having a crack.

"If we can replicate the last part of the Sharks game this week then we will have a better chance. Mentally we have got to be right, we need to learn that we need our A-game every time we go out and play."

Having fielded 25 players in his starting XV through the last two weeks, Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske will be looking to run with his top XV for the final two weeks of the trip.

Drotske highlighted the intensity of the Super 14 and stressed that his chargers will need to lift their concentration to have any chance of pulling off a victory away from home.

"There is no such thing as easy opposition in New Zealand. We will have to look at ways to stop giving away soft tries.

"We are doing the difficult things right but it's the easy things that we are doing wrong and we will have to fix that."

Recent results:

2008: Blues 50-26 Cheetahs Bloemfontein
2007: Blues 26-8 Cheetahs Auckland
2006: Blues 34-33 Cheetahs Bloemfontein

iafrica.com Prediction: The Blues are starting to show some promise and with many of their frontliners returning, they should have no trouble in beating the Cheetahs by at least 15 points.

Teams:

Blues: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Rene Ranger, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Justin Collins, 6 Chris Lowrey, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Jay Williams, 19 Onosai'I Auva'a, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Jamie Helleur, 22 Winston Stanley.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Corne Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Jaques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 7 Wayne van Heerden, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wiaan du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Kobus Calldo, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Fabian Juries.

Referee: Keith Brown (NZ)
Touch judges: Bryce Lawrence (NZ), Mike Frazer (NZ)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)

Brumbies v NSW Waratahs
(Canberra Stadium -7.40pm, 08.40 GMT)

The Waratahs will be desperate to celebrate Al Baxter?s 100-cap milestone with a victory which would take them to the top of the table, as the Bulls have the bye this weekend.

In hitting the 100, Baxter will move one appearance ahead of his good mate Matt Dunning, who was left languishing on 99 after a snapped Achilles ruled him out of this year?s competition.

While there has been plenty of discussion surrounding the ?Tahs playing style, the quality of their defensive work is unarguable. Only the Crusaders have been as mean as 'Tahs, whose six tries conceded is five less than the 11 let in by the Brumbies, who have played one game less.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey, who was an assistant coach with the Brumbies in 1997, said he and the squad were looking forward to the challenge of travelling to the nation's capital.

"I think anyone who watched last week's match against the Reds would agree that the all-Australian matches hold a certain level of intrigue and passion, and that will be there again on Friday when we play the Brumbies," said Hickey.

"Canberra Stadium is one of those really good grounds to play footy at; the crowd provides a great atmosphere and we're looking forward to the challenge of getting down there and putting our best foot forward."

The Brumbies skipped last weekend with the bye, although a number of squad members were released to play on Sunday for the Brumby Runners against an Australian Barbarians XV.

Prior to the visit by the Western Force two weeks ago, the Brumbies had lost just once at home against a fellow Australian side in the 14 years of Super Rugby. That defeat occurred when New South Wales called in 2005.

Recent results:

2008: Brumbies 17-24 Waratahs Sydney
2007: Brumbies 36-10 Waratahs Canberra
2006: Brumbies 14-37 Waratahs Sydney
2005: Brumbies 6-10 Waratahs Canberra

iafrica.com Prediction: Australian derbies, like any other derbies, are usually close affairs. This game should be no different but the in-form 'Tahs should have the edge by at least four points.

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Tyrone Smith, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joshua Holmes, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Guy Shepherson, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Sitaleki Timani/Shawn Mackay, 19 Julian Salvi, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Matt Toomua, 22 Clyde Rathbone.

Waratahs - from: Al Baxter, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Will Caldwell, Tom Carter, Dave Dennis, Luke Doherty, Adam Freier, Daniel Halangahu, Rob Horne, Ben Mowen, Dean Mumm, Sam Norton-Knight, Dan Palmer, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Brett Sheehan,Timana Tahu, Chris Thomson, Jeremy Tilse, Lote Tuqiri, Lachie Turner, Phil Waugh (captain).

Referee: Mark Lawrence (SA)
Touch judges: Paul Marks (Aus), Pro Legoete (SA)
TMO: Geoff Acton (Aus)