The Chiefs have kept their minor premiership hopes alive with a 42-12 win over the Highlanders.
The victory puts the Chiefs at the top of the ladder on 45 points alongside the Hurricanes, who still have to play the Blues on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders' pain was only soured by a potential long-term injury to Caleb Tangitau, who went down after the siren and was carted from the field.
The Highlanders fought for their finals hopes as they dominated early through their power scrum.
Their persistence paid off when Lucas Casey went from the back of yet another advantage to crash over, one of several strong carries for the young back-rower.
But the Chiefs remained calm and hit straight back through number eight Wallace Sititi.
The hosts punished them following a yellow card against Highlanders lock Tomas Lavanini.
Lavanini was sent for ten after pulling back Sititi without the ball as he backed up a break from prop Ollie Norris.
From here, the Chiefs went on a roll after lock Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi got in on the fun after setting up Sititi, giving the hosts the lead.
This was extended further when Damian McKenzie and Xavier Roe combined to put them on the Highlanders’ goal-line, allowing the chance for Samisoni Taukei’aho to add to his growing tally.
With a 21-7 lead, the Chiefs hunted for a bonus point as Roe sliced the visitors open for an easy try from the base of the ruck.
The visitors kept themselves in the contest as Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens hit straight back with a try in the corner.
Kyren Taumoefolau put the icing on the win with a freakish offload as he was heading over the sidelines for Kyle Brown to score well past full-time.
However, the Chiefs’ hunt for top spot took a major blow late when Damian McKenzie was knocked out with 11 minutes to go.
McKenzie was left motionless after an errant boot trying to take down Casey, who will rule him out of next week’s clash with the Crusaders.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders’ chance of making the top six is hanging by a thread with one game left in their season, facing the Hurricanes before their final round bye.
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua host the Waratahs at 4.30pm at the HFC Bank Stadium.
In other games, the Blues will meet the Hurricanes at 7.05pm, while the Force will meet the Reds at 9.35pm.
Source: rugby.com.au
