Deep down Sharks director of coaching Jake White will be praying that his old team - the Brumbies - do him a favour and achieve one of the harder tasks in the Super 15 this season: beat the impressive Waratahs in Sydney tomorrow.
The Sharks contrived to undo all their hard work on tour by conceding a silly and deflating 21-19 defeat to the Stormers in May.
Their place on top of the combined log is no longer in their own hands. Their fate now lies in Australian hands.
All season White has been speaking of the need to focus on what his team needs to do and having their destiny in their own hands, but when the time came to put this into practice, the on-field practicalities failed them.
Whatever happens in the Australian derby it will have a direct impact on what the Sharks need to do against the Cheetahs in their penultimate pool game next weekend.
The Waratahs are on 43 points, two behind the Sharks. The Crusaders are third on 41, followed by the Brumbies (40), Highlanders (38) and Hurricanes (37).
The Waratahs, Crusaders and Highlanders have a game in hand.
When the Hurricanes and Crusaders clash in Wellington is factored in, the Sharks face a distinct possibility of losing a home semifinal spot altogether.
If the Brumbies win with a bonus point, they will go level with the Sharks, but the Sharks have a much better points difference.
With a bye the following week and a last-round home encounter against the Force, the Brumbies can't settle for anything less than five points tomorrow.
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