The Chiefs have kept their minor premiership hopes alive with a 42-12 win over the Highlanders.
In doing so, it all but ends the visitors' chances of making the finals, who were unable to capitalise on their strong start.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
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 to a non-contact knee injury after the siren and was carted from the field.
Tanigtau was distraught as he instantly hit the deck while trying to beat a defender, and was taken from the field after the siren.
The Highlanders fought for their finals hopes as they dominated early through their power scrum.
Entering the game with 29 scrum penalties won this year, they added to this with back-to-back penalties as they turned down easy three-point opportunities.
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.
They enjoyed their fair share of territory but couldn’t find a way through the hosts’ rock-solid defence. It allowed the Chiefs to restore their bonus point hunt, with Brodie McAlister crashing over at the back of the maul.
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.
