Halfback Brad Weber has scored a try double to lead his Chiefs into the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals with a dominant 39-15 victory over NSW Waratahs at Hamilton.
Producing their best performance for several weeks, the home side scored five tries to their rivals' two, establishing a clear advantage at set-piece.
Weber scored the game's opening try and popped up again, after the Waratahs scored first after halftime and threatened a second-half comeback.
The All Black's first five-pointer came off an attacking lineout, where hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho throw long and first-five Bryn Gatland put his captain throw a gaping hole in midfield to score under the posts.
Weber's second came from running superb support lines for winger Jonah Lowe and put his side 17 points clear inside the final 20 minutes.
After almost squandering a similar lead to Fijian Drua last week, the Chiefs did a much better job closing this contest out, with another try to No.8 Pita Gus Sowakula providing the icing on the cake late.
After allowing their rivals an early 10-point headstart, the Waratahs fought back with a converted try to winger Dylan Pietsch and penalty to first-five Tane Edmed to level the scores.
With flanker Sam Cane still injured, Luke Jacobson wore the No.7 jersey and emerged from the middle of a lineout maul to put the Chiefs ahead for good.
Edmed had a night to forget, missing three handy shots at goal and contributing to his team's handling misfortunes, when he threw a wayward pass inside his own 22 and centre Alex Nankivell pounced to give the hosts a 27-10 advantage at the break.
Soon after the restart, the Chiefs were hot on attack again, when Waratahs openside Michael Hooper stole the ball from a ruck near his own line and galloped clear, before finding No.8 Will Harris, who ran 60 metres to score.
But that was as close the comeback came, with the Aussies shooting themselves in the foot with persistent errors in attacking positions.
The Chiefs will now await the results of Saturday's later games to find their opponents in next week's semi-finals, with the prospect of a home fixture if the Highlanders can topple the tabletopping Blues.
Chiefs 39 (Weber 2, Sowakula, Nankivell & Jacobson tries; Gatland 2 penalties & 4 conversions) NSW Waratahs 15 (Pietsch & Harris tries; Edmed conversion & penalty)
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