While pride is a much more likely prize, the Melbourne Rebels are clinging to a mathematical possibility that they could still top the Australian conference and claim a shock Super Rugby finals berth.
Ahead of their Saturday night clash with Queensland at AAMI Park, veteran Rebels prop Laurie Weeks said his bottom-placed team hadn't given up hope they could revive an ailing season which has only reaped one win.
With three of their remaining six games against other Australian teams, the Rebels (on seven points) are still within reach of the conference-leading Brumbies (18 points), which is the only upside of all the local teams performing so badly.
Weeks said they were looking to reboot their season after particularly disappointing losses in their last two games, including last round's 47-10 collapse to the Lions.
"We've got a big Australian derby on and we always seem to turn up for those," Weeks said.
"Pride is a big thing but if you look at the ladder we're still in the mix so if there's something we can take away from that it's when we play the Australian teams those wins are twice as important."
Test flanker Sean McMahon remains an outside chance of making his first appearance of the season after ankle and knee injuries.
Weeks said McMahon teaming in a backrow alongside workhorse Japan international Amanaki Mafi would give his team a massive boost.
"As a team we need to take some weight off Amanaki, who's been doing a lot of ball carries and a lot of tackling," Weeks said.
"To have Sean back and Amanaki running around on the field would cause a bit of mayhem and lift the boys."
The Rebels continue to wait for an announcement on their Super Rugby existence from the Australian Rugby Union, who will cut one local team from the competition.
Weeks warned of the long-term damage for the game in Victoria if they were cut.
"It's affecting a lot of guys personally and I think the doubts over the future transfer on to the field," Weeks, who is a foundation player, said.
"We've worked really hard over the past seven years to build rugby up in Melbourne and if Australia lost Melbourne they'd never make it back it."
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