Otago's hopes of hosting a home semifinal took a hit last night after Tasman beat Counties-Manukau 28-19 in Pukekohe.
The win for Tasman pushes it up to 24 points on the ITM Cup championship ladder, just one point behind Otago, which sits second on the ladder.
Both teams now have one game left before the semifinals and will in all likelihood meet in the play-offs. But where that is played will be decided by the last games of each team.
Otago takes on Auckland at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night, while Tasman takes on the winless North Harbour side in Nelson on Saturday.
If both teams finish on the same points, Otago will host the match as it won the game between the two sides earlier in the season.
Both sides could end up top of the table if results go their way and Counties-Manukau, which has lost its last three games, loses to Northland in Whangarei on Saturday.
The semifinals are to be played on October 20.
In last night's game, Counties, which has been the form side of the championship under Tana Umaga's coaching, looked flat and failed to fire.
Robbie Malneek, who was playing his 100th provincial game - 28 for the Nelson Bays and 72 for Tasman - bagged the first try of the contest when he produced a brilliant solo effort as he kicked the ball in to space, regathered it and showed impressive gas to cross under the posts.
Peter Betham, who has been one of the dominant wings in this year's ITM Cup, then extended Tasman's advantage mid-way through the first half when he ran on to a Tom Marshall kick to score in the right-hand corner.
The Steelers were given a ray of hope in the final quarter when lock Jimmy Tupou scored his first ITM Cup try, but nine points was as close as they could get to a red-hot Makos outfit.
