There are just two rounds of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season to go, with both the top and bottom two positions in the eight still up for grabs.
Over the weekend, there were wins for the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Drua, Brumbies, Blues and Force.
Read on as we review some of the Super -- and Not So Super -- action from Round 13.
SUPER
PEERLESS VALETINI DRIVES BRUMBIES TO DROUGHT-BREAKING WIN
The Brumbies remain in the hunt for a top-two finish, but only after a dramatic closing sequence to their clash with the Crusaders in Canberra. They were a tad fortunate at the finish - more on that later - but had earlier played some sparkling rugby, particularly on the counterattack.
Fullback Tom Wright was brilliant at times, while Noah Lolesio answered the challenge of Ben Donaldson from a week earlier, but it was Rob Valetini who delivered for the Brumbies when it mattered, in doing so underlining his place as the best player in Australian rugby.
Last year's John Eales Medallist made two special contributions on Saturday, saving one try and then setting up, and then scoring, another in a performance that eventually yielded 13 runs for 66 metres and seven tackles.
Late in the first half with the Crusaders enjoying a sustained period of momentum the visitors broke deep into Brumbies territory. Rob Penney's side looked certain to score only for Valetini to counter-ruck a breakdown, win the turnover and allow the hosts to clear downfield.
When the Crusaders turned the ball over a couple of phases later, Lolesio broke away, kicked ahead for Nick Frost, the lock then managing to knee the ball into the path of Wright who ran away to score his second five-pointer of the match.
Valetini then did it all himself in the second half, the No. 8 running onto a peach of a pass from Lolesio to break deep into Crusaders territory. While his pass to Wright was an absolute shocker, when Ollie Sapsford was brought down short of the line, Valetini was there to recycle the ball, hit, spin and force his way over.
Only Taniela Tupou is more powerful from that distance in Australian rugby and Crusaders winger Chay Fihaki was powerless to stop the Wallabies No. 8.
While there has been ongoing debate around the make-up of the Wallabies back-row and how exactly Joe Schmidt might look to bring it together, there is absolutely no doubt that Valetini will be the first name on the Kiwi's teamsheet.
He is peerless in Australian rugby right now.
FOOTE'S COACHING CHOPS STAND UP AMID REBELS UNCERTAINTY
One thing that has been lost amid the ongoing saga that surrounds the Melbourne Rebels' future has been the work of coach Kevin Foote, who has all but led the franchise to its first fully-fledged Super Rugby finals appearance.
That is no mean feat given what has transpired this season, even if the Rebels eventually only scrape into the postseason, potentially on the back of six straight defeats.
The Rebels had played well enough to beat the Chiefs on Friday night and had it not been for a tough-but-fair penalty for not rolling away, they could have very easily found themselves in a golden-point shootout.
Foote's team had only moments earlier executed a superb set-piece try to draw themselves level with the Chiefs. From a lineout just inside the 22 on the right-hand touchline, the Rebels moved the play two phases closer to the posts, before switching back to the right to catch the Chiefs on the over-fold, winger Lachie Anderson scoring the second of his two tries.
It was a superb piece of coaching and execution under pressure, for which the Rebels players deserve loads of credit after another difficult night on the injury front when they had already been without Wallabies stars Taniela Tupou and Andrew Kellaway.
While the Rebels players have had their managers talking with clubs both home and abroad should the Rebels be officially banished from Super Rugby, there has been little discussion around Foote's future, and for that the coach also deserves plenty of praise.
But you have got to wonder if he could be in the Waratahs' sights, with Darren Coleman now next to no chance of earning an extension with NSW languishing in last place.
Foote isn't a household name like Michael Cheika, nor does he have the international experience of another popular option in former Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui. But there is no doubt that the Rebels have improved under the South African since he took over midway through 2022. He would at least worth be interviewing for the Waratahs role if indeed Melbourne does go under.
IKANIVERE CLEARLY A WORLD-CLASS HOOKER
It can't be long until cashed-up European clubs come for Fijian Drua hooker Tevita Ikanivere, who again underlined his place as one of the premier hookers in Super Rugby Pacific with yet another excellent performance.
While the Reds, and specifically Suliasi Vunivalu, did a spectacular job of beating themselves in Suva, Ikanivere led the hosts from the front, the skipper grabbing a double as part of a 10-run, 38-metre contribution and a largely solid afternoon at the set-piece.
Ikanivere has been one of the standout Drua players since their inception and proved a key part of Fiji's run to the World Cup quarterfinals in France last year. But he must surely be in the sights of overseas clubs, with his mix of power running and competent set-piece an attractive combination.
The Drua meanwhile remain in a scramble for the final spot in the playoffs ahead of this week's trip to Dunedin. If they are unable to beat the Highlanders this week, they would then need to beat the Rebels back at home in Lautoka and hope the Force do not win both of their closing two games.
NOT SO SUPER
REDS' WOEFUL LINEOUT ONLY BETTERED BY VUNIVALU'S DOUBLE BRAINFADE
Suliasi Vunivalu has not been a fan favourite among Australian rugby supporters since his switch from rugby league. While his run of hamstring injuries were unfortunate, he was deemed incredibly fortunate to earn Wallabies selection for last year's World Cup.
But given Eddie Jones' fascination with all things rugby league, that was no surprise.
Vunivalu, however, must be at increasingly long odds to feature under Schmidt, particularly after an inexcusable double-tripping effort against the Drua in Suva.
Vunivalu was in the sin-bin after only four minutes for bringing down Kitione Salawa with a stray right boot that also cost his team a penalty try. Then, midway through the second half, Vunivalu repeated his indiscretion, clipping Selestino Ravutaumada despite the winger not falling to the ground.
The Reds' winger's second effort left referee Angus Gardner with little choice but to show him a red card and, in all likelihood, it will result in at least a one-week suspension, potentially longer.
To throw a leg out as a reaction once is understandable, but to do it twice in the same game is unforgiveable.
In was a forgettable afternoon all round for Les Kiss' side, the Reds lineout was diabolical as they lost seven balls on their own throw, denying them any genuine set-piece platform to work from.
The listless defeat means the Reds are out of the running for a top-four spot and will likely be headed to either Hamilton or Canberra for a tough quarterfinal assignment.
STRANGE LEAVES CRUSADERS' QUARTERFINAL HOPES HANGING BY A THREAD
You're unlikely to see a finish like it anytime soon, perhaps ever again.
The Brumbies and Crusaders appeared destined for golden point in Canberra after the visitors locked up the scores with a 53-metre penalty from winger Chay Fihaki in the 75th minute. But when referee Ben O'Keeffe awarded the hosts a penalty of their own, sharp-shooter Noah Lolesio lined up a shot from out by the left touchline.
In scenes eerily similar to the Wellington Bledisloe of 2020, Lolesio struck the left upright, the ball ricocheting down into the Crusaders in-goal and into the path of Quinten Strange.
With Brumbies replacement Harrison Goddard chasing through, Strange knocked the ball dead with his left hand. That, in rugby, is of course an illegal play and after consultation with the TMO, O'Keeffe was left with little choice but to award the Brumbies a penalty try and issue Strange a yellow card.
With Goddard applying huge pressure, O'Keeffe and his assistants agreed that a "probable" try would have been scored by the Brumbies scrum-half.
It was a brutal finish in what has been a brutal season for the Crusaders. The 31-24 defeat also brought their 15-game winning run over the Brumbies to a halt.