The high-spin rotational bands in 168Hf and the triaxial bands in Lu nuclei are analyzed using the configuration-constrained Cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky (CNS) model. Special attention is given to the up-sloping extruder orbitals. The relative alignmen
t between the bands which appear to correspond to triaxial shape is also considered, including the yrast ultra-high spin band in 158Er. This comparison suggests that the latter band is formed from rotation around the intermediate axis. In addition, the standard approximations of the CNS approach are investigated, indicating that the errors which are introduced by the neglect of off-shell matrix elements and the cut-off at 9 oscillator shells (N_{max}=8) are essentially negligible compared to other uncertainties. On the other hand, the full inclusion of the hexadecapole degree of freedom is more significant; for example it leads to a decrease of the total energy of ~ 500 keV in the TSD region of 168Hf.
