Live coverage has concluded
Final score: Chiefs 26 Crusaders 25
Chiefs 26 (Boshier, Lowe tries, McKenzie 2con, 4pens) bt
Crusaders 25 (Jordan, Taylor, Fainga'unuku tries, Mo'unga 2con, 2pens) HT - CRU 17-9
Wrap - Four in a row for the Chiefs and they are well and truly in the hunt for not only a spot in the final, but also a home final if the Blues can tip up the Crusaders next week. It's all on as they say.
80+1mins - Chiefs lineout midway 22 and halfway to end the game... Chiefs win the throw and they have a penalty and that's it!! Ball is smashed into touch from the tap and it's game over. Chiefs win!!
79mins - Penalty Chiefs! Holding on at the ruck with Mo'unga waiting in the pocket. Captain's Challenge against that penalty, but it's not successful and the play stands.
78mins - Exit play from McKenzie wasn't great. Crusaders lineout just out from the 22.
77mins - Penalty goal Chiefs: McKenzie smokes it straight down the middle. CHI 26-25
76mins - Offside at the ruck against the Crusaders! McKenzie from in front here - maybe 30-32m out.
75mins - Gatland kicks long and Jordan's reply isn't as good. Lineout Chiefs on the Crusaders 10m line.
74mins - Chiefs win the lineout as Barrett knocks on - they have a scrum just outside their own 22.
73mins - Crucial play. Chiefs pinged for entering the maul from the side and Mo'unga finds touch on the 22.
72mins - A bit of back-and-forth with ball in hand. Crusaders have a lineout on their own 10m line.
70mins - Crusaders on the attack and play through 11 phases until Talitui coughs up the ball. Scrum Chiefs on their own 22.
67mins - Lineout for the Chiefs on the Crusaders 10m line.
65mins - Penalty goal Crusaders: Mo'unga makes no mistake this time. CRU 25-23
64mins - Crusaders win a lineout against the throw and are rolling towards the line. Fraser says advantage and a knock-on a few phases later means Mo'unga will put his side back in front.
61mins - Try Chiefs: Jonah Lowe - Nankivell is again a key factor in that movement as he runs through some week midfield defence. The Chiefs just 5m out - the forwards looking to power over until Weber releases his backline and McKenzie's long pass finds Lowe who sprints to the corner, dives low and scores. McKenzie nails it from the sideline!! CHI 23-22
57mins - Up and under from McKenzie and it pays off as Reece knocks the ball forward. Chiefs scrum midway halfway and 22 Crusaders end.
55mins - Chiefs with ball in hand looking dangerous. Ah Kuoi explodes through the middle but is dragged down 20m out. Ball shifts to the left and Tiatia looks to step his way to the line but is tacked out of play.
53mins - Try Crusaders: Codie Taylor - Just like that the champs are back rolling. Textbook 5m lineout and drive and Taylor crashes over from the back of the maul. Mo'unga fluffs the kick from pretty much in front. CRU 22-16
52mins - Penalty for the Crusaders and Barrett wants the lineout.
51mins - Chiefs turn the ball over on attack and Jordan kicks long .... carried back by Tiatia and that'll be a five-metre scrum.
47mins - Try Chiefs: Lachlan Boshier - Nankivell creates this as his midfield bust gets the Chiefs rolling. McKenzie, Boshier and Jacobson all go close. Under advantage through nine phases and Boshier powers over to score. CRU 17-16
45mins - Jordan clears over halfway for the Crusaders and the Chiefs have a lineout.
43mins - Great defence from the Crusaders. 13 phases and the Chiefs go nowehere. Accidental offside against Webber and the Crusaders hace a scrum deep inside their 22.
41mins - Mo'unga fields the kick off and boots the ball into touch - poor kick and the Chiefs attack from the 22.
Second half - Here we go... The Crusaders 40mins from a home final.
Halftime - Crusaders 17 Chiefs 9
40+2mins - Drummond kicks the ball into touch to end the first half.
40+1mins - Crusaders penalty after another Chiefs attack. They have a lineout on their own 10m line.
39mins - Lineout Crusaders on their own 22.
37mins - Wow! What a passage of play. The Chiefs attacking with real intent. Lienert-Brown set them alight with a midfield break. Through 12 phases but the Crusaders hold firm and Sanders wins a steel - the Crusaders break out but Jordan knocks the ball on with a couple outside him and acres of free space in front. Chiefs scrum midway 22 and halfway.
34mins - Turnover Chiefs! Barrett takes the lineout and the Crusaders drive but the Chiefs defend superbly - go through the middle and the ball in unplayable. Scrum Chiefs.
33mins - Penalty for the Crusaders just inside their own half. Mo'unga finds touch just outside the 22.
30mins - Try Crusaders: Will Jordan - Mo'unga creates! The No.10 darts around on halfway looking for something - he takes on the line and gets an arm free to a charging Scott Barrett who's inside ball finds Jordan and he races away to score. CRU 17-9
29mins - Penalty goal Crusaders: Mo'unga makes no mistake. CRU 10-9
28mins - The Crusaders will shoot for the lead again here. Barrett wins the turnover from the kick-off and four phases later there is a breakdown penalty against Brown.
27mins - Penalty goal Chiefs: McKenzie drills another and the Cheifs have their first lead. CHU 9-7
26mins - Sanders pinged for being offside at the ruck - penalty count now 6-1. Mckenzie will have a shot here.
25mins - Chiefs lineout on the 22.
24mins - The challenge is upheld and that'll be a Chiefs penalty on halfway.
23mins - Long kick from Lowe - Jordan collects and skins the front line of defence - runs 60m, but is brought down by McKenzie. Boshier wins the turnover two phases later and McKenzie clears. Captain's challenge coming up from the Chiefs - appealing for an obstruction by Strange on one of the Chiefs kick chasers.
22mins - Penalty goal Chiefs: McKenzie makes no mistake. CRU 7-6
21mins - Chiefs scrum dominating. Mo'unga knocks the ball on from scrappy ball and it's picked up by Drummond in an offside position. McKenzie will slot this.
19mins - Great attack from the Chiefs sets Nanai-Seturo away - he kicks in-field - Mo'unga is back in his in-goal and swings a pass to Havili who chips for himself - McKenzie reads it but loses the ball forward and that'll be a Crusaders scrum just outside their 22.
18mins - Chiefs attacking with real purpose but the Crusaders are holding firm. Forward pass from Lienert-Brown ends that period of play. Scrum Crusaders on their own 10m line.
16mins - Long period of play with both sides enjoying attacking moments. Eventually Boshier wins a penalty with a lovely breakdown steel. Chiefs lineout 25m out.
14mins - Penalty goal Chiefs: McKenzie drills it and the lead is cut to four. CRU 7-3
12mins - Offside against Alaalatoa - Mckenzie creating plenty for the Chiefs. Looks like he will have a shot from just outside the 22.
10mins - Chiefs attack off the back of a big scrum. Quick hands creates room for Nanai-Seturo but he's bundled out into touch 15m out.
7mins - Scrum for the Chiefs. Jordan with a kick and chase can't control the rebound. Scrum is 10m inside the Crusaders half.
5mins - Try Crusaders: Leicester Fainga'anuku - Pick 'n go from the Crusaders. Jordan steps through two but is dragged down inches short. Drummond fires a pass to Fainga-anuku who steps back inside and powers over to score. Mo'unga converts. CRU 7-0
4mins - Lineout 20m out for the Crusaders. Chiefs defend well but the Crusaders continue to attack. 10m out now through six phases.
3mins - Defensive lineout for the Crusaders on their own 22. Won by Strange - Crusaders drive before Drummond box kicks. Penalty for the Crusaders - Boshier pinged for changing his line on the runners.
1min - Early attack for the Crusaders - Jordan sights a gap but knocks the ball forward - counter from McKenzie but his pass is loose - no advantage - scrum Chiefs midway halfway and 22.
Kick-off - Referee is Mike Fraser and we are underway in the Tron.
7:03pm - Big roar for the Chiefs - full house at FMG Stadium tonight.
7:01pm - Teams are as-advertised. Very different looking Crusaders forward pack tonight - could the improved Chiefs target them at set piece? We will see.
6:52pm - Nice conditions ahead of kick-off. A little bit greast under foot, but the weather should hold off.
Hello folks and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the Super Rugby Aotearoa clash between the table-topping Crusaders and the streaking Chiefs.
A home final beckons for the defending champs if they can win in Hamilton tonight, while the Chiefs can jump to second, and pole position for a spot in the final next month.
The home side have won three straight after an 0-2 start to the campaign, and with three games still to play, their destiny is in their hands.
Win all three and play in the grand final.
TAB odds: Crusaders $1.48, Chiefs $2.50
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-Angus Ta'avao, 4-Tupou Vaa'i, 5-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 6-Mitchell Brown, 7-Lachlan Boshier, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber (c), 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Alex Nankivell, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Jonah Lowe, 15-Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16-Nathan Harris, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Sione Mafileo, 19-Pita Gus Sowakula, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Bryn Gatland, 23-Sean Wainui
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Michael Alaalatoa, 4-Mitchell Dunshea, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Scott Barrett (c), 7-Tom Sanders, 8-Ethan Blackadder, 9-Mitchell Drummond, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-David Havili, 13-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Codie Taylor, 17-Isi Tu'ungafasi, 18-Oli Jager, 19-Luke Romano, 20-Sione Havili Talitui, 21-Bryn Hall, 22-Dallas McLeod, 23-Manasa Mataele
