First fact: the Highlanders can still make the Super 15 playoffs.
Second fact: any repeat of what happened last Friday night against the Crusaders, and they have no chance.
The Highlanders need to play a million times better than they did against the red and blacks, and take every chance that comes along.
They know that, as do the coaches, so one would hope that performance which led to a 50-point hammering is well and truly put to bed.
The competition is on a three-week hiatus for the June internationals, and in some ways that is a blessing for the Highlanders. When the players come back together, the mauling from the Crusaders will be something of a distant memory.
When they return to training on June 25, they have just two games to play - against the Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium, and the Reds in Brisbane.
In the last round of the competition, the Highlanders will be twiddling their thumbs with a bye.
They get four points for that, so need to be well in contention before the final round is played.
Simply, the Highlanders need to win both of their remaining games, and hope the teams above them fall.
It is not ideal to not be able to control your own destiny, but it is the best they can hope for.
The maximum number of points the Highlanders can amass is 58, and that could be enough. Last year the Sharks qualified sixth with 57 points.
There are five teams in contention for the fifth and sixth spots. The Chiefs, Stormers, Brumbies and Crusaders are probably far enough ahead to be reasonably certain of making the playoffs, and rounding out the top four.
But the Bulls, Hurricanes, Sharks, Highlanders and Reds are still in the race for the final two spots.
The Cheetahs are eight points behind the Reds and are too far out of sight to be in the mix.
If teams are tied on points at the end, it goes down to which team has the most victories over the season.
A month ago, the Bulls looked a shoo-in to be in the finals.
But they have lost three straight games and are in danger of sliding out of the picture.
They are helped by having nine bonus points - as have the Hurricanes and Sharks - but the match between the Bulls and the Sharks, to be played in Durban in the penultimate round, is going to be a huge game, for the Sharks especially.
The Hurricanes face a daunting trip to Christchurch, and then play the Chiefs in a tough match in Wellington in the final round.
They do have the bye in the middle of those games, so will be able to freshen up and know exactly what they have to do when they face the Chiefs.
The Reds looked dead and buried about halfway through the competition but have welcomed back key players and have started to put some wins together.
To put a Stephen Hawking spin on it, all the Highlanders need to do is get the maximum points from their two games and hope the Sharks lose to the Bulls and the Hurricanes lose both of their games.
Conversely, if the Sharks beat the Bulls, the boys from Pretoria can still keep the Highlanders out by winning their other two games by big margins.
Super 15
The run home
Conference leaders: Chiefs 58, Stormers 54, Brumbies 49.
Wildcard race: Crusaders 51, Bulls 49, Hurricanes 45, Sharks 45, Highlanders 44, Reds 44.
Key remaining games.
Crusaders: v Hurricanes (home), v Chiefs (away), v Force (home)
Bulls: v Cheetahs (home), v Sharks (away), v Lions (home)
Hurricanes: v Crusaders (away), bye, v Chiefs (away)
Sharks: bye, v Bulls (home), v Cheetahs (home)Highlanders: v Chiefs (home), v Reds (away), bye
Reds: Rebels (away), Highlanders (home), Waratahs (home)
