That's the sound of silence. A sound broken only by the occasional munching noise.

As Super League reaches the final round of the regular season, there's a lot of humble pie being eaten by those who predicted that the end of automatic promotion and relegation would set the competition back years.

It really has 'all gone quiet over there' from the direction of the people who argued that the introduction of Super League licences would create a multitude of meaningless fixtures because clubs outside the top six would have so little to play for.

Try telling that to Castleford, who just two weeks ago used their wooden spoon to spank the backsides of Warrington Wolves.

And try telling that to Hull KR and Hull, who on Sunday will meet for the fourth time this season in a fixture which will be no less intense for the fact that victory will have minimal impact on the final league position of either club.

A week after their Challenge Cup final defeat, Hull will see the derby as a chance to salvage something from the wreckage of their car crash of a season.

A home victory would lift Rovers from eighth to seventh, but only if Wakefield fail to get at least a point from their match against Leeds tonight.

Given how disappointing they have been in the last few months, the Wildcats have an awful lot to prove this evening and Leeds can expect a rough ride from John Kear's team.

It's a similar story for Huddersfield, another team who have flattered to deceive in 2008. The Giants have had fluctuating fortunes this season and their match at Warrington tomorrow will be their last before the arrival of new Australian coach Nathan Brown and, as such, one last opportunity for every player in claret and gold to prove that he is not the weakest link.

Castleford have claimed some notable scalps in their first season back in Super League, including those of Leeds and St Helens, and are more than capable of beating Bradford tomorrow when the Bulls will feature in one of the most exciting finishes involving the top six clubs.

Positions one to three may already be assured, but below
St Helens, Leeds and Catalans is one almighty cat-fight involving Warrington, Wigan and Bradford, all of whom have everything to play for over the next 48 hours.

Should Warrington and Wigan both lose their matches against Huddersfield and St Helens, respectively, a Bradford win at Wheldon Road would elevate the Bulls from sixth to fourth and give them a home tie in the
play-offs.

Sixth position is something a poisoned chalice this season – whoever claims the final play-off spot faces a tough trip to Catalans Dragons next Saturday – so the Bulls, Wolves and Warriors have everything to play for.

Of course, there is no getting away from the fact that the title will almost certainly be won by one of just two clubs.

Super League remains some way from its stated goal of being 'winnable' by every club in the competition and for all the levelling effect of the salary cap, Leeds and St Helens are still streets ahead of everyone else.

Until a team that finishes in one of the lower play-off positions goes on to win the grand final, it's hard to escape the view that as exciting as it is for the supporters of the clubs involved, much of what goes on this weekend is mere frippery.