The Super 14 rolls into week three on the back of some much improved play - but still has a long way to go. This weekend’s round also sees no Friday night game in New Zealand and all five South African teams at home.

With the entire Super 14 pack still tightly bunched, points this weekend will be very precious. No one team have really stamped their mark on this year’s competition yet, and while the Sharks and Blues are unbeaten, neither have looked a great deal better than their opposition.

Stormers vs Chiefs
Week Three opens with a battle of the winless teams. The Stormers are yet to register a competition point or score a try, while the Chiefs are not completely out of contention, having scored three bonus points in their two games. Both teams face an uphill battle from this point if they hope to secure a semi-final berth.

The Chiefs have been ravaged by injury. Flying winger Soseni Anesi is out for the rest of the competition with two broken neck vertebrae, captain Jono Gibbs will miss several weeks with a calf tear and first-choice players Richard Kahui, Sione Lauaki and Keith Robinson still haven’t recovered from pre-season injuries.

For the last two weeks the Chiefs could have won if only they had taken their chances, but the Stormers have been awful. On a wet night in Cape Town last week, they failed to adapt to the slippery conditions and ultimately were well beaten by the Western Force. This game is likely to be ugly with two teams struggling for form. However, even with all their injuries the Chiefs should still be able to win.

Bulls vs Force
Like most Super 14 teams, both the Bulls and Force have a win and a loss to their names this season. However, the quality of opposition so far has been greatly indifferent. The Force lost at home to a sub-standard Highlanders team, then went on to beat an even worse Stormers side in Cape Town, while the Bulls lost at current front-runners the Sharks before muscling up to beat the Cheetahs in Pretoria.

Force playmaker James Hilgendorf is still out with a groin injury, so once again Matt Giteau will play at first five. Last week Giteau looked good in this role, but he will have far less time to make decisions against the monstrous Bulls forward pack. The loss of game-breaking winger Brian Habana will hurt the Bulls' abilities out wide, but their strengths lie with their forwards and the kicking game of first five Morne Steyn.

Beating the Bulls in Pretoria usually requires teams to dive into the trenches and win the war against the forwards, something the Force pack simply cannot do. Bulls to win comfortably.

Hurricanes vs Blues
The only match to be played in New Zealand this round is an all-Kiwi affair from Wellington. The Blues are one of only two unbeaten teams in the tournament, with a good win against the defending champions Crusaders in Week One, followed up by their last-second victory against the Brumbies last week. The Hurricanes improved greatly from their first-up loss to the Reds to beat the Chiefs last weekend in Hamilton.

Both teams go into this game with few injury worries, Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith remains sidelined with an eye injury but former All Black captain Tana Umaga has filled Smith’s role well. The Blues showed a great deal of grit to beat the Brumbies in pouring rain. By contrast, the Hurricanes’ flair of old was back against the Chiefs. With good weather forecast, both teams should be able to play their natural games which will make for an excellent spectacle.

The Blues played well in all areas of the game in their last outing, while the Hurricanes need to improve their defence in close to have any chance. I’m picking a Hurricanes win.

Red vs Brumbies
This all-Australian affair is about all about pride - state pride, players' pride and the pride of former Brumbies and current Reds coach Eddie Jones. As well as pride being on the line, Super 14 points are vital for both teams’ confidence.

The Brumbies narrowly beat the luckless Chiefs and then suffered a last-minute loss to the Blues. In both games the Brumbies failed to look like a team that has won two Super Rugby titles. The return of playmaker Stephen Larkham seemed to hurt more than it helped as Larkham looks to have lost confidence to run with the ball, something stand-in Julian Huxley did well against the Chiefs.

A home win against the Hurricanes got the season off to a good start for the Reds, but last week in Christchurch the Crusaders were too good for them. Injuries have been avoided by all key Reds players so far and league convert Clinton Schifcofske is already the pick of the off-seasons signings. Schifcofske has so far proven to be an excellent goal-kicker, a solid full-back and a counter-attacking threat. If he continues to improve, a Wallabies jersey is not far away for him.

This match will be won off the field, not on it. The brilliant mind of coach Jones will give the Reds the edge; he knows the Brumbies’ weaknesses and will instruct his players to exploit them. Reds to win in an upset.

Cheetahs vs Waratahs
The Cheetahs are yet another team who have played well so far this season but failed to turn chances into points and are suffering for it. The Waratahs have looked like a team that spent the off-season on the beach rather than training, struggling to beat the Lions and then meekly rolling over against the Sharks in Week Two

When the Cheetahs have everyone on the same page they are a force to be reckoned with. However, much like the Hurricanes they are a confidence team. If the Waratahs have a little luck early on and catch the Cheetahs with their heads down, they are in with a chance. But there’s an old saying in sports: “You’ve got to be lucky to be good, and you’ve got to be good to be lucky.” Cheetahs to pull off an easy win.

Lions vs Crusaders
Despite a win last week against the Highlanders, this Lions team will struggle throughout the Super 14. Last week’s victory may have given them a boost in confidence but thisteam will not come close to defending champion Crusaders.

Looking more like the Crusaders of old, they scored five tries against the Reds and broke the line regularly. Against the Lions they will break the line even more. Stephen Brett showed his class last week directing a back line that is now starting the gel together and kicking goals. Rua Tipoki provides the Crusaders an experienced midfield player and has played well since his move to second five.

The Lions took their one and only real chance in an awful game with the Highlanders. The notoriously stingy Crusaders will likely not even provide that as they hand the Lions their second loss of the season.

Sharks vs Highlanders
Can the Sharks keep their unbeaten record intact? Almost certainly, yes. The Highlanders, who are only fielding local players this season due to financial restraints, have only scored one try in their first two games. The Sharks have conceded none. Stand-out Highlanders’ forwards Josh Blackie and James Ryan are really the only things the Highlanders have going for them. With playmaker Nick Evans back in New Zealand healing up his injured knee the Highlanders’ back line has been without direction.

The Sharks, by contrast ,have been ruthlessly efficient in all facets of the game, dispatching the Bulls and Waratahs easily. The Highlanders are unlikely to test the Sharks much this week and a win will see the Sharks stay at the top of the table. The real test for the Sharks this season will come after their first five games, all at home, during their tour of Australia and New Zealand.