As the All Blacks lace up their boots for their final game this year, it's time to turn our attention to other codes to fulfil our sporting fix.
Luckily, there's no shortage of options available this week, including an absolute guarantee that Kiwis WILL kick Aussie butt in Supercars at Newcastle.
So buckle up now, lock the doors and cancel all other appointments... here are five sporting things you can't miss this weekend.
The Match: Tiger vs Phil
Golf
9am (NZT) Saturday
Shadow Creek Golf Course, Las Vegas
Imagine McGregor vs Mayweather, without the steroids.
In their prime, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson defined a golfing generation with their skill, their swagger and obvious distaste for each other.
Nowadays, they seem more like a couple of old prizefighters, who realise there's more to life than the knockout punch.
The golf should be enthralling, but the banter even better.
Join us at 8am Saturday for live updates of The Match: Tiger vs Phil
Newcastle 500
Supercars
5:45pm (NZT) Saturday/2:50pm & 5:40pm Sunday
Newcastle Street Circuit
Speaking of rivalries, here's one much closer to home, between a couple of Kiwis at the very top of their games - Scott McLaughlin and Shane Van Gisbergen.
No-one can quite figure out whether they get on or not, but SVG's antics at Pukekohe three weeks ago, when he deliberately trapped his counterpart in the 'parc ferme', branded him an instant villain - unless you're a Holden supporter.
Van Gisbergen is seeking his second Australian Supercars title, while McLaughlin still chases his first, after letting one slip on this same track 12 months ago.
One of them will stand atop the podium on Sunday evening, with not an Aussie in sight. That's so sweet.
Join us from 2pm Saturday & Sunday for live updates of Supercars from Newcastle
Blackcaps vs Pakistan - Second Test
Cricket
7pm (NZT) Saturday & Sunday
Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Test cricket in November is a hard ask at the best of times, let alone played in another hemisphere with unkind time zones.
But the Blackcaps caught everyone's attention this week, with a stunning first-up win over Pakistan in the desert, proving that any score is a good score, if you bowl well enough.
This was a contest the home team had no right to lose, but they again showed why their international results are so heavily scrutinised by the ICC integrity unit, losing by four runs, when they seemed to be cruising.
Is it too much to hope New Zealand can defend their surprising series lead? Probably, but they will continue to tease us to the end.
All Blacks vs Italy
Rugby
3am (NZT) Sunday
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
What should have been a leisurely walk in the Coliseum and week of sampling Italian reds got a little more serious with defeat by the Irish last week.
Now, the All Blacks have more to play for, not the least of which is silencing the hysterical calls for coach and captain to be sacked before next year's World Cup.
This is still very much a second-string national side, with most of the starters given an early start to the off-season, but the last thing anyone needs is another rugby upstart scoring a first-ever win over the world champions.
Imagine the hysteria then…
Join us at 3am Sunday for live updates of the All Blacks vs Italy
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Formula One
2:10am (NZT) Monday
Yas Marina Circuit
Or, as petrolheads may refer to it, Brendon Hartley's last stand.
While McLaughlin, Van Gisbergen, Scott Dixon and Haydon Paddon have given motorsport fans plenty to applaud this year, Hartley has cut a very forlorn figure on the code's biggest stage.
If you believe the gossip, this will be Hartley's final appearance for the Torro Rosso team and if that's true, he will want to leave a lasting impression, after a season full of speculation and misadventure.
The usually mild-mannered Kiwi reached boiling point in Mexico two weeks ago - can he channel that emotion into a last-ditch effort to salvage his drive for next season?
Honourable mentions
- NZ Breakers vs Perth Wildcats home-and-away doubleheader - a double dose of the ANBL's juiciest rivalry
- Auckland Tuatara vs Brisbane Bandits - reigning Aussie baseball champs drop into Te Atatu to welcome the league's newest team
- Junior Football Ferns vs Japan - winners progress to the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup semis
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