2025 Qualifying Final 1.Chiefs v 6.Blues. Sat 7/06 19:05 NZT

[Tomthumb]

As it stands they're playing the last team to beat the top qualifier which perhaps means they're not necessarily a lesser team.

Other than not having six qualifiers I'm not sure there's really a neat & tidy solution.

The easy way would have been to give the 1st and 2nd placed teams the bye and have 3rd play 6th and 4th play 5th. That way you are still rewarding regular season form without the joke of letting teams lose in the playoffs and continue playing