After two rounds of 2012 Super Rugby action, who would have guessed that the Blues and Sharks would be winless and that the Highlanders and Chiefs would be heading up the New Zealand conference?

That, you see, is the beauty of the Super 15 and as we head into Round Three, there are – once again – some very tough matches to call, with Bet.co.za offering some pretty interesting odds at the same time.

The big games this week see the Crusaders host the Chiefs at their makeshift home ground of McLean Park (in Napier), with not much to choose either between the Sharks and the Lions in Durban – in effect a repeat of the 2011 Currie Cup Final.

A closer look at Super Rugby, Week 3 action:

Friday’s action:
(All kick-off’s SA time)

Crusaders v Chiefs (Napier) – 8.35am
Odds: Crusaders 7/20 and Chiefs 2/1
Bet.co.za is offering interesting odds for a Chiefs win in this ‘away’ game, with a host of the Chiefs players having played their home matches at McLean Park in 2011. The Chiefs starting XV is unchanged, with just two changes on the bench, but Crusaders boss Todd Blackadder has made a number of changes to his team’s starting line-up – including the return of World Cup All Blacks Corey Flynn, Owen Franks and Zac Guildford.

Force v Hurricanes (Perth) – 1.05pm
Odds: Force 13/20 and Hurricanes 11/10
According to Bet.co.za, the Force are the favourites, but there is money to be had here – especially after the Hurricanes’ half-impressive tour of South Africa. The ‘Canes have a new flyhalf talent in the shape of Beauden Barrett and they showed plenty of guts to steal the game from the Lions in the end last weekend.

Saturday’s action:

Brumbies v Cheetahs (Canberra) – 6.35am
Odds: Brumbies 1/5 Cheetahs 3/1
The Cheetahs, despite their surprisingly heavy loss to the Bulls last weekend, could be worth a punt here. With their bar-brawling prop Coenie Oosthuizen back in the mix, and the magic of Johan Goosen to call upon at No.10, why not? The Brumbies will be pragmatic, as always under coach Jake White, but if the Cheetahs can get enough momentum they could earn you some cash with Bet.co.za.

Highlanders v Waratahs (Dunedin) – 8.35am
Odds: Highlanders 13/20 and Waratahs 11/10
The Highlanders, according to Bet.co.za, are rightfully the favourites heading into Saturday, but the ‘Tahs showed a powerful side to their approach with their away win over the Rebels last week. There is something about the Highlanders this season – and they showed that in their win over the Crusaders last week – and they are always that much tougher to beat in Dunedin. That said, the ‘Tahs have an incredible Super Rugby record in Dunedin, having won six of their last seven encounters there.

Reds v Rebels (Brisbane) – 10.40am
Odds: Reds 1/10 and Rebels 5/1
This is an all-Australian Derby… and anything can happen in a derby… but even with the generous odds on offer for a Rebels victory, one just cannot see them winning in Brisbane. The Reds and Rebels have met just twice before – last year – with the Reds winning both matches at an average of 43-11.

Sharks v Lions (Durban) – 5.05pm
Odds: Sharks 7/20 and Lions 2/1
The Lions have won just once in Durban in Super Rugby – since 1998 – a one-point victory which came back in 2000. Bet.co.za has instilled the Sharks as favourites, despite two away losses this season, with the Lions good value given their odds. The Lions are without star props JC Janse van Rensburg and CJ van der Linde, but the Sharks will be sweating even more over the fitness of influential Springbok forward Willem Alberts – the epitome of go-forward.

Bulls v Blues (Pretoria) – 7.10pm
Odds: Bulls 3/10 and Blues 11/5
The winless Blues will arrive at Loftus Versfeld very low on confidence. The Bulls, in turn, will be tasting blood – and wanting more – after their 51-19 demolition of the Cheetahs last weekend. The Blues have not won in Pretoria since 2003 – when the Bulls were still Super Rugby’s whipping boys – but, even with Bet.co.za’s enticing odds, don’t expect that to change.

• Visit bet.co.za for updated odds ahead of the weekend!