For the fifth-placed home team, a win is required to keep them in touch with the competition leaders, while the ninth-placed Waratahs need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Get your TICKETS HERE.
The task is most challenging for the visitors, who have only two wins this season but have to break a seven-game winning streak the Blues have enjoyed in games between the sides. It is the best streak for either side in games between them.
And, in 13 games in Auckland against the Waratahs, the Blues have won 12, with their last loss in 2009.
The Waratahs have won only two games in their last 18 against New Zealand opponents.
Compounding the Waratahs' hopes are the facts the Blues are the best in the competition for carries 140.4 per game compared to the Waratahs' 106, for carry metres 1021.4-739.5, line breaks 8.4-5.3, passes 183.4-146.3.
While the Blues are second in the least missed tackles, 19.1-21.6, with tackle percentage of 86.5-85.6 and penalties conceded 9.4 to 12.7, the second highest in the competition for the Waratahs.
The Blues are third with their average tries scored in games sitting on 4.6 compared to the Waratahs, who rank 10th with their 3.9.
They are also third in defenders beaten at 27.4, while the Waratahs have the least, 17.6 in the competition.
The Waratahs have a superior goal-kicking percentage of 76.3 compared to the Blues' 68.2, while they have a better offloading rate of 10.6-9.1.
One area the Blues will be seeking to improve their success rate is in lineouts. Their 86 per cent is only ninth in the competition, while the Waratahs are operating fifth best at 87.2.
Blues No8 Hoskins Sotutu ranks second among all teams for carries with 84 in his six games. Wing Mark Telea is third for metres gain with 746 in five appearances, with Sotutu sixth on 624.
Telea also ranks third on defenders' beaten with 39, while Mark Nawaqanitawase is seventh with 27 for the Waratahs.
The halfbacks, Jake Gordon for the Waratahs and Finlay Christie for the Blues, rank first and second for passing, with Gordon 446 from seven games and Christie 428 from six.
Waratahs lock Jed Holloway tops the list for lineout steals with six, while Cameron Suafua heads the Blues in eighth place with three. Holloway is second on lineouts won with 38.
Flanker Michael Hooper is the most successful of the tacklers, sitting 10th with 82, while Blues captain Dalton Papali'i shares 10th with six turnovers won.
Round nine kicks off on Friday night when the unbeaten Chiefs take on the exciting Fijian Drua at FMG Stadium Waikaton at 7.35pm NZT. The Chiefs are chasing eight wins in a row, while the Drua would love to take another high-profile New Zealand scalp after knocking over the Crusaders earlier in the season. Get your TICKETS HERE.
Later on Friday night, the Rebels host the Crusaders in what will be Richie Mo’unga’s 100th Super Rugby Competition game. Watch the action LIVE on Sky Sport at 9.35pm NZT.
Saturday begins with the Blues v Waratahs clash at Eden Park before the Western Force lay out the welcome mat to the Highlanders in Perth at 9.35pm NZT.
The Force are a different beast at home and will be desperate to get a win over the Highlanders to stay in touch with the top eight.