Speedy Ben Lam has the legs to score for Hurricanes

Chiefs v Highlanders
Sky Sports Action, 7.35am Friday

A nine-try romp against the Sunwolves in Tokyo in round six made it three wins on the bounce with 19 tries scored for the Chiefs, who are back on home soil for their clash with New Zealand rivals the Highlanders.

The Highlanders suffered their first defeat of the campaign last weekend, to the Hurricanes in Wellington, having won their first three at home, including a success over the champions Crusaders.

The Chiefs' 24-15 victory in Dunedin last year ended a run of six straight defeats in this fixture, and the bookmakers are finding it hard to split the pair. Even with the attacking talent on show this fixture has rarely been a blowout, so with home advantage take the Chiefs to edge it.

Recommendation
Chiefs to win by one to 12 points
1pt 11-5 Coral, Ladbrokes

Rebels v Hurricanes
Sky Sports Action, 9.45am Friday

A major summer overhaul has paid off for former the Rebels, who recorded just one win in the whole of 2017 but already have four from five in this campaign.

However, they face a major step up against the Hurricanes, who have been flexing their muscles since an opening defeat to the Bulls in Pretoria.

Home successes over New Zealand rivals the Crusaders and Highlanders have marked the Canes out. This could be a high-scoring clash between teams with a total of 43 tries to their names in this campaign, but as well as scoring freely the Rebels have leaked 15 tries against moderate opposition.

Hurricanes winger Ben Lam has scored in his last three outings and looks value to add to that tally.

Recommendation
B Lam to score a try
1pt 11-10 bet365

Blues v Sharks
Sky Sports Action, 7.35am Saturday

These teams have just one win each under their belts but the Blues' performances haven't always produced the results they have deserved, as underlined by their victory at last year's beaten finalists the Lions.

The Auckland outfit are 13-point favourites but were poor in their defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town last time out, a surprisingly limp performance after they had pulled off a stunning win over the Lions in Johannesburg the week before.

They are also without Sonny Bill Williams.

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