NSW are once again shaping as Australia's sole standard bearers in the Super rugby finals after the Brumbies and Reds were torched by two of the other major contenders.

The Waratahs (23 points, 2nd) broke an 80-year drought in Auckland with a 27-22 victory over the Blues (18, 8th) at Eden Park.

The Waratahs, who have won five of their seven games in 2009, are on course to make the finals for the fourth time in five years.

No other Australian team has made the top four since the Brumbies captured the title in 2004 and that trend looks set to continue.

The Sharks (26, 1st) combined back-line flair and forward efficiency in their impressive 35-14 conquest of the Brumbies in Durban.

They are favoured to stay top as they play five of their last six at home with their only other assignment away to the winless Cheetahs.

The free-scoring Chiefs piled on six tries as they belted the Reds 50-26 in Brisbane.

The Chiefs (22, 3rd) head the New Zealand contingent from the Hurricanes (20, 5th), Highlanders (18, 6th), Crusaders (18, 7th) and Blues.

Australian and South African teams share the bottom six positions, though all of them have a game in hand on the three New Zealand teams on 18 points.

With three successive home games against the Stormers (13, 9th), Bulls (22, 4th) and Force (12, 12th), NSW have a golden chance to consolidate a top-four position before rounding off their schedule in South Africa.

"We go to Africa for three games, so it's important that we are in good shape before we go, because it's hard to pick up points over there," NSW coach Chris Hickey said.

"To pick up the win over there (in Auckland) was really important to us ahead of a run of three home games.

"It just seems our future is in our own hands. That's the main thing, we will determine our own fate over the next three weeks."

The finals appear a distant and almost unattainable goal for the other three Australian teams, the Brumbies (13, 10th), the Reds (12, 11th) and Force.

The Force and Reds clash in a must-win battle in Perth on Friday.

"The finals are no chance if we don't win," said Force back Scott Staniforth following his side's bye week.

Queensland coach Phil Mooney was adopting a similar approach to the game.

"We are both at a point in the season where we both need to win this game. All the other teams are beating each other ... we can both jump back into the race if we win this week," Mooney said.

The Reds are again likely to be without Test winger Peter Hynes, while the Force will be bolstered by the return of No.8 Richard Brown and winger Cameron Shepherd.

The unheralded Highlanders pulled off arguably the upset of the season, with a 36-12 win over the previously unbeaten Bulls (22, 4th).

The Hurricanes remained within touching distance of a top-four spot with a 38-32 away win over the Cheetahs, while the Crusaders enhanced their finals prospects and dented those of the Stormers with an 11-7 win.

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