The Guinness PRO14 Final series looms ever-larger on the horizon as the 2018-19 season reaches its climax.

Six teams will graduate from the Guinness PRO14’s two conferences to battle it out for a shot at glory at Celtic Park in May – and Cardiff Blues are one of those sides still gamely in the hunt.

As the business end of the season approaches, we’ve taken a look at the Blues’ chances of reaching the Guinness PRO14 Final series.

What does their remaining schedule look like?

With three rounds of action to go and the battle to reach the end-of-season shake-up achingly tight in Conference A, John Mulvihill’s troops will need to match Connacht stride-for-stride to maintain their chances of sealing a top-three spot.

Points difference is all that currently separates the two teams, with the Blues fourth, teeing up what is effectively a straight shoot-out between the two.

The Welsh outfit travel to Ireland in Round 19 and Round 20 – at Munster and Connacht respectively – before they bring the curtain down on the regular season against rivals the Ospreys.

Cardiff Blues’ run-in:

R19: Munster (A) Friday, April 5, 19:35

R20: Connacht (A) Saturday, April 13, 15:00

R21: Ospreys (H) Saturday, April 27, 17:15

Who are going to be the difference-makers if Cardiff Blues can reach the Guinness PRO14 Final Series?

Earlier this week, influential scrum-half Tomos Williams penned a new long-term contract at Cardiff Arms Park and, providing music to Blues fans’ ears, immediately reiterated his desire to have a major impact in his team’s bid to reach the Guinness PRO14 Final series.

Another player that featured in Wales’ Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam triumph, the Blues can also count on playmaker Gareth Anscombe, who is the third-highest points-scorer in the Guinness PRO14 so far this season, as well as centre Rey Lee-Lo, the championship’s third-highest try-scorer.

What’s the ‘must-win’ game for Cardiff Blues?

It’s hard to look past the Blues’ trip to take on Connacht at the Sportsground in Round 20.

With these two teams currently deadlocked and both intent on clinching Conference A’s final qualification spot – and the stars have aligned to put them both on collision course in Galway.

Whatever results Round 19 throws up, this one will go a long way to deciding who snares a Final series berth.

Can Cardiff Blues go all the way if they reach the Guinness PRO14 Final series?

In the Championship’s previous guise as the Celtic League, the Blues claimed second-placed finishes in both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.

Since the Championship switched to a play-off format, the Welsh outfit have yet to qualify but they remain in a strong position to break that duck this season.

The Blues also boast a squad full of bona fide talent, making them a tricky proposition for any opponent they could potentially be pitted against during the post-season.