It's been one of the tightest Pro 12 tables since last year - which was also one of the tightest Pro 12 tables. It shows that of all the questionable restructuring of European club rugby - one thing that people got right was the meritocracy that was brought into the league.
As it stands, all four Irish provinces will just about sneak into the Champions Cup - Leinster as the top Irish seeds, with Connacht, Ulster, and Munster joining Scarlets, Glasgow, and Zebre. With three games to go though, a lot can change. Both Ulster and Munster are outside the playoffs at the moment in fifth and sixth, both have a chance of upsetting the applecart.
Mathematically nine teams are still in with a chance of making the top four, but Welsh pair Cardiff and Ospreys need a lot to go their way.
Here is what each of the Irish provinces need to a) secure a Champions Cup spot, and b) a playoff berth:
Leinster
Leinster's victory over Munster on Saturday gives them top spot, and a five point gap between them and Scarlets in third. They need just five points from an available 15 to secure Champions Cup rugby for next season. They have yet to host Treviso at the RDS, so you would expect them to at least reach that 68 point threshold.
Final fixtures over Edinburgh and Ulster could help Munster's cause for a top six spot, and a victory in either game should be enough for them to get the ten points needed to secure a playoff berth.
Connacht
Connacht's needs are the exact same as Leinster's given they lie on the same number of points. Five points, also with a trip to Treviso to come, secures Champions Cup rugby, while ten points will mean a top four place. They'll have to find those points in either of their remaining home games against Munster or Glasgow. They couldn't do the double over Munster could they?
Ulster
Despite being in fifth place, thanks to Glasgow having to play two of the top four in their final four games, Ulster's fate is still in their own hands. A maximum haul of fifteen secures them a playoff spot, but with games against Leinster in Ravenhill and away to Ospreys that's far from a foregone conclusion.
They also benefit from Munster and Edinburgh playing each other in the penultimate game, meaning that just two wins will secure Champions Cup rugby for the 2016/17 season
Munster
Munster will find it very difficult to reach the top four, and will struggle to get Champions Cup rugby without beating Edinburgh.
They will be relying on Leinster to do them a favour in beating Edinburgh, before beating the Scots themselves. Should that happen, it would be enough for them to finish in the top six, and play at Europe's top table next year. It's cup final time for the southern province.
Predicted Top 4:
1. Leinster 73
2. Glasgow 72
3. Connacht 72
4. Ulster 68
5. Scarlets 67
6. Munster 59
7. Edinburgh 57
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Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
