There are 12 contestants left. There are 2 contestants being voted out this week, leaving 10. It sounds to me that the merge takes place right after this week's TC. If the contestants realize or believe that this is the last pre-merge TC, it would be in their interests to start voting out the so called strong guys this week. I think that puts guys like Dan and Ace even more on the chopping block and protect gals like Suzie and Sugar.