So the first objective for teams aiming to claim the title this year will be to finish in one of the top four places, or the "play-off zone". However it does not end there, as the first and second placed teams will gain home advantage in the play-off semi finals, hosting the fourth and third placed finishers respectively. If the league phase of the tournament were to finish now, Leinster, Ulster, Ospreys and Edinburgh would be in the play-off zone, with Leinster and Ulster claiming home advantage in the semi-finals, Edinburgh the visitors to the RDS and Ospreys travelling to Ravenhill.
No team has remained in the play-off zone at the end of a full round of games since the start of the season, although Edinburgh have never dropped below fifth. Interestingly Ulster have climbed from 10th to 2nd over the same period. Just 4 league points currently separate the top four teams in the table with Newport Gent Dragons, Munster and Glasgow Warriors no more than a couple of points behind, so if this was in fact the final round of fixtures most games being played this weekend would have a direct bearing on qualification for the play-offs.
It is for this reason, ensuring more meaningful games in the competition right up to the final round, that Celtic Rugby, in line with most professional rugby tournament around the world, has embraced the idea of holding a grand final to decide their champions.
It is not only at the top of the table that teams will be looking to improve their results in the Magners League. Changes to ERC rules whereby the winners of both the Heineken and Amlin Cups will qualify automatically for the next season's Heineken Cup, mean that there will no longer be a play-off between the highest non-qualifying Magners League team and an Italian side for entry into that competition.
This season more than ever every game really does matter, so thank you all for your support and enjoy your game.
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