For some, that milestone will sound an alarm bell. Teams like University and Alhambra-Union are running out of games to make it into the playoffs.
But for the defending champion, it might be the ideal time to experiment.
Taieri collected its sixth consecutive bonus-point win and tops the standings with 30 points.
The Eels could stop hitting rucks for the next two weekends and still cruise into the playoffs.
But the faithful will be eyeing up a perfect season, and that means winning the next five games.
Dunedin will present a stern challenge this weekend. The Sharks (20 points) have won four of their five games.
Whether they can upset Taieri or not, they have almost collected enough points to be guaranteed a spot in the top six.
That will be a comfort as Dunedin has a tough run. It is away to Green Island next weekend and will complete the round robin with home advantage against Southern.
Southern (15 points) is well placed, but it is a tight competition, and a run of losses and other results could conspire against the Magpies.
Southern travels to Watson Park to play Harbour (14 points) tomorrow. Both teams have three wins from five games.
Harbour, which had a bye last weekend, has won three games in a row. One of those was a 5-0 win over Dunedin on a bleak day at Port Chalmers.
Southern’s form has been mixed. It edged University 36-35 in a thriller in round one, but followed up with a 41-14 loss to Alhambra-Union.
The winner can start doing some planning for the playoffs, so it is a big game.
University (eight points) has one of those itself. Its 48-38 loss to Kaikorai was damaging. Very damaging.
A loss to Alhambra-Union at the University Oval tomorrow will be curtains.
University has two games left and can get to a maximum of 18 points.
Alhambra-Union (seven points) has already had a bye, so it has three round robin games and could get to a maximum of 22 points.
It plays Harbour next week and finishes with Kaikorai. Realistically, the playoffs look a stretch for AU.
Kaikorai (10 points) holds on to sixth place with two wins from five games.
It hosts Green Island tomorrow, but its game against Alhambra-Union in round nine could be more critical.
Green Island (11 points) has stumbled after a decent start, but a bonus point or two and a win over Zingari-Richmond in the last round should be enough.
Zingari-Richmond is in last spot with five points. It has a bye this week then faces Taieri at Peter Johnstone and Green Island the week after.
The Colours have firmed as favourites to claim the wooden spoon.
