Who would have thunk it? The Reds nudging towards the playoffs while the Brumbies and the Waratahs battle it out this weekend with their seasons on the line and almost as importantly, the threat of being tattooed as the most boring Australian Super 14 franchise hanging over their heads.

Mon Dieu or shit, eh, as they say in Canberra. Surely the lowly Western Force deserve that unwanted gong. Non! They have been inept when not crippled with injury which should not be confused with boring.

The fact is, the Brumbies and to a lesser extent, the Tahs have been recklessly un-reckless. You could forgive them for being buttoned-up prigs on the field if they had little potential for flair & adventure or if they were, God-forbid, British, but no...

On the contrary, between them they've hoarded some of the best running ball players in the business, but still managed to play the game at times like Hugo Porta-era Argentineans.

The Waratahs made an ugly art-form of grinding to victory last season and started off looking horrendously pedestrian this year, though it must be said, there have been flashes of brilliance as they've dismantled some of the weaker sides.

The Brumbies, on the other hand, should be swabbed. So often the saving grace of Australian rugby they've rarely got out of a canter in 2010 and when they've tried, they've been hobbled by pushed passes, drop ball and attacks of the clumsy-wumsies (a technical term).

Meanwhile the Reds, long the duffers of the comp, have kidnapped the Brumbies' mojo, using it to mint a successful season which is set to reach absurd heights on Friday if they can overcome the awfully good Stormers.

And don't get all Vince Lombardi on me by claiming winning is "the only thing" and all will be forgiven if both teams manage to bore everyone to death including the opposition before squeaking into the playoffs.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey has battled manfully against a two-season tide of criticism, offering the brave opinion that winning will brings the crowds back and fill the coffers.

Well, they've checked the till from last year and golly, it seems to be $459,000 short, compounding a $295,000 deficit in 2008. Loss of sponsorships and a drop in crowds are to blame.

Given that crowds are down again in 2010 (to about an average of 18,400 from 23,800 last year and about 27,200 the year before) one could be forgiven for suspecting the books are likely to be bathed in red again at season's end -- and that's a real no-win situation.

Of course, Saturday's match has been transferred to ANZ Stadium ensuring a much larger than usual crowd and a spate of calls to emergency services from North Shore types panicking when they get lost in their Beamers negotiating the ghettos of Homebush and the mean streets of Olympic Park.

The Brumbies faithful have tried to stay loyal this season, but let's face it, the Canberra area doesn't throw up a lot of competition entertainment wise -- although that trick they do filling and emptying Lake George every 20 years or so is pretty compelling.

The irony is the team everyone wants to watch is the truly bankrupt mob from Queensland. After years of shooting themselves in the foot on and apparently off the field, the Reds have discovered a way back and it's not just playing rugby and winning -- it's playing winning rugby.

After all, each of the three leading Aussie provinces have six season victories going into Week 11 of the comp, but the crowds are coming back to Suncorp Stadium. Even if the Reds fall in a screaming heap in a couple of weeks (unlikely, but not impossible), they've overachieved and, crucially, provided value that inspires customer loyalty.

The Brumbies and the Tahs still have the chance to fully redeem themselves, starting Saturday night, and it's hard not to suspect the turn around for Andy Friend's charges, in particular, is nigh.

The Brumbies have the tougher four week run in to the playoffs, but that may be a good thing as they've demonstrated a tendency -- disturbingly similar to the Wallabies -- to play to the standards set by the opposition.

A few comments made by players and the coach this week hint at the source of the Brumbies' ills. Julian Huxley, whose remarkable recovery from a brain tumor seems to have the side effect of compelling him to speak the truth, no matter how unattractive, lamented the fact the forwards were hanging on to the ball too long.

Friend agreed the decision making process in crucial situations -- including countless occasions in the Brumbies' dreadful loss to the Hurricanes last weekend -- was flawed.

"I believe last week's performance was an aberration and the guys have shown through the week that the problem can easily be remedied," Friend says. "This season we've continually put ourselves into a prime attacking position and all we need is for our communication to be clear and exact when we're down that end to ensure we capitalise on the lead-up work."

One important change is the return from injury of scrumhalf Josh Valentine. His replacement, Patrick Phibbs is a warrior and appropriately a cherished member of the Brumbies squad, but his decision making at the base of the ruck is flawed -- particularly close to the opposition line.

He resets the forwards too often and the Brumbies advance over the advantage line is lumbering and often laboured, flying in the face of their traditional style.

Valentine will unleash the backs swiftly and his long pass will give Matt Giteau the room he needs to create havoc.

In the forwards Rocky Elsom is still the best attacking backrower in Australia and one of the best in the world, but his workload and ‘lead by example' ethos have him wasting his talents in gruntwork that should be the kind of filth the Brumbies' second rowers address.

NSW's style will suit the Brumbies better than the unpredictable, though talented Hurricanes and the loss of several keys players and injuries to others give the Waratahs a shaky look on a ground as unfamiliar to them as the Brumbies.

Wycliff Palu's season ending knee injury leaves a hole the Waratahs simply won't be able to fill. Ben Mowen is a goer, but yet to prove himself a large freak of nature, like the man he is replacing.

Just as vitally, the two best tight five players in Australia, Benn Robinson (arm) and Tatafu Polota-Nau (shoulder) don't look certainties to start and will be less than 100 per cent if they do.

The Waratahs ability or otherwise to overcome adversity in this game could define the rest of their season, while if the Brumbies stumble again, the mood in the national capital will likely become even creepier than usual.

The Reds can do no wrong, although now Queensland is no longer a surprise packet, the Stormers, the best balanced side in the comp, won't be ambushed.

Losing Van Humphries -- lineout caller and inspirational team orator -- to injury is a cruel blow for the Reds. Look for the Stormers to fully test his replacement, the fiery Adam Byrne and kick long and regularly for touch to pressure the Queensland lineout.

The South Africans are not incapable of the rolling maul, either. A facet of play almost single handedly nullified by Humphries against the Bulls last week.

The Western Force can do their fellow Australians a big favour by shocking the Crusaders in Perth on Friday. The West Australians have a pretty good record against the table topping New Zealanders, playing four times and managing to draw two of the games.

Jonathan Kaplan is the ref, ensuring at least one team will be complaining at the end of time. Check the odds of a Force win. Should be long -- maybe, worth a flutter.