As well as they're travelling, the Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders all have asterisks next to their title aspirations after a weekend that saw Super Rugby lift a notch as the playoff race intensified.
First five eighth Beauden Barrett's injured knee cast a shadow over the league leading Hurricanes after they showcased their counter attacking potency during a 29-23 win over the Crusaders in Wellington.
Based on last season's points table, the Hurricanes' 43 points would be enough to qualify for the playoffs, and with nine wins from ten matches they are undoubtedly the competition's form team and genuine title contenders.
However, those boasts would quickly become debatable if Barrett was sidelined for any length of time.
The Hurricanes need only look at the Chiefs for an example of how the loss of a first five eighth top injury can have a noticeable impact with coach Dave Rennie's side stumbling to an historic 16-15 loss to the Rebels in Melbourne.
This week Andrew Horrell was tossed the No 10 jersey previously held by Aaron Cruden, but the performance was no more structured than during a muddled win over the Force a week prior.
The Chiefs had no luck against the Rebels. A questionable yellow card to wing James Lowe was followed by an independent doctor at the venue overruling the Chiefs medical staff in taking prop Ben Tameifuna from the field due to concussion concerns.
However, those incidents would have been largely irrelevant if replacement first five Damian McKenzie had converted impressive No 8 Michael Leitch's late try.
The kick hit the posts and the Chiefs suddenly face a tough run home that includes away matches against the Hurricanes, Highlanders and Reds, and a tricky rematch against the Hurricanes in New Plymouth to finish.
Rennie, also without lock Brodie Retallick, must decide over the bye week whether Marty McKenzie, brother Damian, or Horrell will run the cutter down that stretch.
There are no such concerns at the Highlanders were Lima Sopoaga put in a virtuoso performance during his side's 48-15 win over the Sharks in Dunedin.
Both Barrett and Crusaders opposite Colin Slade were classy in Wellington, but Sopoaga's vision, passing and kicking were sublime as he bamboozled the directionless Sharks.
He was a key part of many of the Highlander's seven tries and added five conversions and a penalty for good measure in a display steeped in measured control.
The return of All Blacks Aaron and Ben Smith and Malakai Fekitoa was heralded, but it was Highlanders forwards like locks Mark Reddish and Tom Franklin, and prop Josh Hohneck who gave Sopoaga an armchair ride.
The Highlanders look good on the ladder, fifth place with seven wins, but coach Jamie Joseph will feel some anxiety about a draw that sees them away to the Lions, Cheetahs and Force, at home to the Chiefs, then away to the Hurricanes and Blues.
Somewhere amid that he will have to rest both Smith's and Fekitoa again.
For the ninth placed Crusaders, the season is tenuous even if coach Todd Blackadder remained defiant after his side's sixth loss.
The likely return of loose forward Richie McCaw could help this week, but with trips to Sydney, Auckland and Canberra ahead and three Kiwi rivals ahead of them, the odds aren't good.
For the Blues season loose forward Akira Ioane is becoming the brightest spot on a season that's not going to get any easier after No 8 Jerome Kaino (finger) and fullback Charles Piutau (knee), picked up long term injuries during a 41-24 win over the Force.
In the Australian conference, the defending champion Waratahs continue to rise for the big matches, edging the Brumbies to move into sixth place, just one point behind their rivals.
The South African conference has become a three horse race between the Bulls, Stormers and much improved Lions.
