Click here for match report
Chiefs 29 Reds 20
Chiefs - Narawa & Sowakula try; McKenzie 5 penalties & 2 conversions
Reds - Vunivalu 2 & Wilson tries; Lynagh penalty & conversion
Fulltime
40th minute - Chiefs controlling the ball on halfway and soaking up time. The siren sounds and Ioane finds touch to end the game.
39th minute - Reds have ball in hand in their own half and Vunivalu looks for a way down the right sideline. Ratima steals the ball at a ruck, but McKenzie loses track of a pass.
38th minute - Upfield surges into the Chiefs 22, but his offload goes loose and the Chiefs break downfield.
37th minute - Ah Kuoi claims the kickoff and spills it in midair, but backwards. McKenzie kicks to Lynagh, who runs to halfway.
36th minute - TRY to Sowakula
Retallick carries in midfield and finds Dyer, who stumbles just short of the line, but Sowakula is with him and picks up to score. McKenzie converts from in front, CHI 29-20
35th minute - Ratima puts up a high kick and Lynagh knocks on in midfield. Chiefs break to the 22 and Narawa is elusive again.
34th minute - Reds have a linout on their 10 and shift right, with Wilson carrying in midfield. Lynagh kicks high to McKenzie
33rd minute - Reds pass goes astray on halfway and the Chiefs win the turnover.
McKenzie shapes to kick, Stevenson makes the halfbreak and Narawa is dragged down just short of the line, but Reds have a clearing penalty at the breakdown.
32nd minute - Lynagh kicks high and Reds have the bounce on Chiefs 10. O'Connor kicks into the 2, McKenzie finds Stevenson, who kicks downfield.
31st minute - Retallick claims the Reds kickoff and McKenzie kicks deep to Campbell, who returns. Vunivalu fields a kick and runs to halfway.
30th minute - PENALTY to McKenzie
29th minute - After 13 phases, Chiefs have penalty advantage, McKenzie kicks ahead and ALB chases, but the bounce eludes him dead. Back for the penalty.
28th minute - Chiefs go left and Sowakula carries towards the posts. Ioane is smashed in a tackle, but Cane straightens the attack.
27th minute - Jacobson replaces Finau for the Chiefs, who have a lineout throw on the Reds 10. Jacobson wins the throw.
ALB switches direction and McKenzie carries to the 22.
26th minute - Chiefs win the lineout and shift left, where Stevenson kicks ahead. Reds surge back towards halfway and McDermott kicks to the 22.
McKenzie somehow keeps Campbell's kick in play and Ioane kicks into the Reds 22.
25th minute - Chiefs win a clearing penalty in front of their posts and find touch on their 10.
24th minute - From the scrum, O'Connor kicks another 50-22, which have worked a treat for the Reds tonight. Reds win the lineout and surge towards the tryline.
22nd minute - Ratima replaces Weber and Ioane is also on for the Chiefs. From the kickoff, Chiefs enter the Reds half, but are held up in a maul to turn the ball over.
Ioane is at first-five, McKenzie to fullback and Stevenson to the wing.
20th minute - TRY to Vunivalu
Reds win the lineout and maul to the tryline. The winger is lurking at the back of the ruck and dives over for his second try.
Lynagh converts from near touch, RED 20-19
19th minute - Nanai Seturo spills the ball trying to offload and Lynagh converts a 50-22.
18th minute - Weber feeds the scrum on Chiefs 10 and the shift right, where Stevenson storms into Reds half.
17th minute - McDermott tries to chip ahead, but Weber knocks it into touch.
Reds win the lineout in Chiefs half, but Uru can't handle the pass in midfield.
16th minute - McKenzie chips ahead, but he's taken out, before he can chase. Reds have the ball in hand on halfway.
15th minute - Reds win their lineout and Wilson carries into midfield. Lyngah kicks high into Chiefs half and another kicking duel ensues.
14th minute - Reds win a scrum penalty, when front row collapses. Campbell finds touch near the Reds 10.
13th minute - Sowakula and Taukei'aho carry strongly, before Stevenson sends Retallick on a run. Chiefs come right, but Weber knocks on under pressure.
12th minute - PENALTY to Lynagh
McKenzie kicks off and Lynagh returns the kick. Finau winds up again...
11th minute - Ah Kuoi steals the Reds lineout throw, but the Reds have a penalty on halfway. O'Connor points to the posts, which is a big call, because Lynagh hasn't hit a kick today.
10th minute - Retallick claims the kickoff and his impact on this game is growing. Both teams exchange kicks and Nanai Seturo finds touch towards halfway.
Ninth minute - PENALTY to McKenzie
Eighth minute - Ah Kuoi replaces Lord. Dyer replaces Ryan in the front row.
Retallick wins the lineout and Chiefs have a penalty advantage in midfield.
Seventh minute - Chiefs building phases, but losing ground. Nanai Seturo slices through and Weber kicks into the 22.
Sixth minute - Lynagh clears towards the Reds 10 and Retallick wins the lineout.
Fifth minute - Reds building phases in the Chiefs half, but Finau steals the ball and Weber kicks ahead. Reds regroup inside their 22...
Fourth minute - Reds steal the Chiefs lineout throw and surge into Chiefs half.
Third minute - McDermott kicks high, but it drifts into touch on the full. Daugunu is suffer, after that tackle on ALB, and he's replaced.
Second minute - Stevenson fields a Lynagh kick and brings it back into Reds half. Daugunu hits ALB in a tackle and Reds turn the ball over.
First minute - McKenzie kicks off for the second half and Lynagh kicks deep. Finau carries strongly again towards halfway.
Taukei'aho has ball in hand and McKenzie kicks high, with Campbell underneath.
Halftime
40th minute - Lord wins the lineout, Chiefs shift left, where Narawa enters Reds half. Chiefs have penalty advantage...
TRY to Narawa
Stevenson surges into the 22 and finds his winger with a long pass that gives him space to dive over in the corner. McKenzie converts from the sideline, CHI 16-10
38th minute - Chiefs steal another Reds lineout throw outside their 22 and Poihipi kicks downfield. Campbell returns, Stevenson kicks long and Lynagh runs it back towards halfway.
37th minute - McDermott feeds a scrum near halfway and touch, and Reds have a penalty.
36th minute - Reds secure the kickoff and Lynagh kicks long, but Finau carries strongly into Reds half. Chiefs shift right and Narawa drops the ball.
35th minute - TRY to Wilson
Reds win the lineout and maul towards the tryline. They have a penalty advantage, but the No.8 is carried over to score.
Gardner wants to check for a possible offside, but no problems there. Lynagh hooks his conversion left, RED 10-9
34th minute - Scrum collapses and Reds have a penalty on the Chiefs 22. Campbell kicks to the corner...
33rd minute - McDermott kicks high from near halfway, but the chasers have knocked on. Lord is struggling, but returns to play.
32nd minute - Sowakula claims the kickoff and McKenzie kicks deep to Campbell, who returns. McKenzie kicks and Vunivalu runs straight into Finau's shoulder.
31st minute - PENALTY to McKenzie
30th minute - Chiefs win the lineout and enter the Reds 22. Cane is rocked in a tackle, but Chiefs have a penalty in centrefield.
29th minute - Ross was in that big tackle from Retallick and he has blood streaming from a cut above the eye.
Reds steal the Chiefs lineout throw, but Lord surges to halfway. McKenzie kicks to ALB, who kicks ahead.
Flook clears to the Reds 22.
28th minute - Chiefs steal the ball and McKenzie kicks deep to Campbell, who returns. Lynagh finds touch near halfway.
27th minute - Fa'agase thinks he's scored, but Gardner says he's held up over the line for a goal-line dropout. McKenzie kicks off towards halfway, but Wilson is smashed by Retallick.
26th minute - Campbell kicks to the corner, but the Reds lineout isn't working that well right now. They win this one and their forwards surge towards the posts.
25th minute - Chiefs steal another lineout and Narawa chips over the defence, but McDermott covers it and brings the ball into Chiefs half. Reds have another penalty at the breakdown.
24th minute - Chiefs secure the kickoff and Nanai Seturo kicks deep to Lynagh, who sends it back. A lot of tactical kicking and eventually Stevenson finds touch on halfway.
23rd minute - PENALTY to McKenzie
22nd minute - Finau takes Lynagh's dropout and Chiefs have a penalty for offside. Cane points to the posts...
21st minute - When the Chiefs go left, Sowakula puts a chip towards the tryline and Campbell has to scurry across the cover the threat.
20th minute - Sowakula secures the kickoff and Nanai Seturo kicks deep. Lynagh returns the kick and McKenzie finds touch near halfway.
Chiefs disrupt the Reds lineout and Ross steals the throw. Chiefs shift right...
19th minute - PENALTY to McKenzie
17th minute - Cane surges towards the 22, carried on by Lord. Chiefs have penalty advantage for a late tackle.
Stevenson puts an angled kick ahead for Cane, but the bounce evades him into touch and they come back for the penalty.
16th minute - McKenzie's dropout clears halfway and Chiefs have the ball back. McKenzie kicks deep and more kicking ensues.
Lynagh eventually finds touch near the Reds 10.
15th minute - Lynagh sprays his penalty left - costly miss.
14th minute - Chiefs monster the scrum on their 22, but Reds retain possession and win a penalty.
13th minute - Reds win the lineout, but a pass goes astry and Sowakula comes away with the ball. Gardner brings them back for Reds scrum feed.
12th minute - Nanai Seturo takes the ball into Reds half, but Chiefs are penalised at the breakdown.
11th minute - From the kickoff, Lynagh's clearing kick is partially charged and Finau goes on a run. McKenzie's kick is charged, but Chiefs get the ball back in their own half.
Ninth minute - TRY to Vunivalu
Reds win the lineout inside the Chiefs 22 and maul to midfield. Gardner catches Weber offside, but the Reds shift right, where O'Connor finds Vunivalu with a long pass to score.
Lynagh can't convert from near touch, RED 5-0
Eighth minute - Chiefs feed a five-metre scrum, but McReight steals the ball from Sowakula's feet. Flook kicks downfield for a 50-22.
Seventh minute - Reds clear upfield and win the lineout. Lynagh kicks high and Stevenson takes the catch.
Poihipi kicks ahead for Lienert-Brown to chase and McDermott manages to cover the threat.
Fifth minute - Poihipi kicks across the field to Narawa, who chips ahead and chases. The bounce evades Flook and Narawa gathers to score, but there's a possible push in the back on Flook, so no try.
Fourth minute - Both teams kick for territory, and eventually Narawa fields the ball on halfway and runs.
Third minute - Reds put together eight phases, but the Chiefs win a clearing penalty, when Cane gets over the breakdown. Lord wins a lineout near the Chiefs 10 and McKenzie kicks deep.
Second minute - Reds win the lineout and maul into the 22. Vunivalu carries towards the tryline.
First minute - Angus Gardner in charge of today's game and Reds kick off, Retallick claiming the ball. Nanai Seturo kicks down centrefield to Lynagh.
Campbell puts a grubber into the 22 and Nanai Seturo has a foot on the touchline when he fields it.
4:32pm - Late change for the Chiefs with Pita Gus Sowakula into the starting line-up at No.8 and Luke Jacobson slipping to the bench.
*****
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final clash between the Chiefs and Reds at Hamilton's FMG Stadium.
The home side have lost just once during the regular season, when their second-stringers fell to the Queenslanders at New Plymouth last month. That blot on their record will act as a reminder to the tabletoppers that no-one is unbeatable, especially at this time of the year, when you lose... you go home.
The Chiefs have the luxury of losing All Blacks lock Tupou Vaa'i and replacing him with fellow international Josh Lord.
Their third-stringers dispensed of the previously unbeaten-at-home Force last week, allowing most of their guns to rest up for the playoffs, while the Reds slipped down the competition table, when they became the latest team hijacked by Fijian Drua at home.
Join us at 4:30pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Chiefs $1.04, Reds $9, Draw $36
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-John Ryan, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Josh Lord, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Sam Cane (cc), 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber (cc), 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Pita Gus Sowakula, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Daniel Rona
Reds: 1-Peni Ravai, 2-Matt Faessler, 3-Sef Fa’agase, 4-Angus Blyth, 5-Ryan Smith, 6-Seru Uru, 7-Fraser McReight, 8-Harry Wilson, 9-Tate McDermott, 10-Tom Lynagh, 11-Josh Flook, 12-James O’Connor, 13-Filipo Daugunu, 14-Suliasi Vunivalu, 15-Jock Campbell
Reserves: 16-Richie Asiata, 17-Dane Zander, 18-Zane Nonggorr, 19-Lopeti Faifua, 20-Jake Upfield, 21-Kalani Thomas, 22-Lawson Creighton, 23-Taj Annan
Now or never for Weber with final chance at Chiefs Super Rugby title win
As Super Rugby Pacific's playoffs begin this weekend, one of the Chiefs' longest-serving players knows it's now or never.
After putting pen to paper to join French Top 14 outfit Stade Francais, halfback and co-captain Brad Weber's days with the Chiefs are numbered.
Now 32, he has been with the Chiefs since 2014 - missing both their only title wins in 2012 and 2013.
While the Chiefs have come close to silverware in Weber's time at Hamilton, his Super Rugby trophy cabinet is empty.
On Saturday, Weber will take the field in the quarter-final against the Reds, with the wrong result bringing a curtain down on his time with the two-time champions.
Despite nearing the end of his time, the emotion of playing his final season with the Chiefs has been lodged in the back of his mind all year.
While Weber has tried to lift a title every year he's been with the Chiefs, the reality of this season being his last chance has started to dawn.
"I've known for a while, I guess," Weber said. "I've been trying to win Super Rugby every year.
"I knew this day was going to have to come eventually. I'm just trying not to think of it.
"It'll be a bit of a sad day when it happens. Hopefully, it'll be in three weeks' time.
"It definitely puts the pressure on. I want to go out on a high, I want to win.
"I've been chasing it for 10 years and haven't gotten there. This is my last chance at it."
Fittingly, the Chiefs' first playoff opponent - the Reds - are the only team to beat them this season.
Even though it was a heavily rotated side - playing at New Plymouth, instead of Hamilton - a shock 25-22 loss showed the rest of the competition that the tabletoppers were beatable.
Rather than make the week about revenge, the Chiefs insist their quarter-final will be about proving their point.
"It definitely gives you that knot in your gut," said Weber. "The table doesn't really matter, does it?
"Any team, on their day, can beat you. They proved that last time.
"We've got a lot to prove."
