The Chiefs have continued to show why they're the team to beat in Super Rugby Pacific, adding a second-straight victory, courtesy of a 46-14 win over ACT Brumbies in Melbourne.
Having opened 2024 by beating New Zealand's best team, the Crusaders, Clayton McMillan's side added Australia's leaders in week two.
The Chiefs ran in six tries to secure a bonus point, and move level with the Blues on nine points at the top of the competition.
Winger Etene Nanai-Seturo gave another strong performance, scoring one try and creating two others, as the Brumbies struggled to contain the free-flowing game the Chiefs brought to Melbourne.
After an early Damian McKenzie penalty gave the Chiefs a 3-0 lead, a break from Nanai-Seturo freed Xavier Roe to race away and score the first try of the game in the ninth minute.
And while the Brumbies responded through an outstanding solo effort from Corey Toole, the Chiefs' attacking quality ultimately told.
Nanai-Seturo turned from provider into scorer, when a cutout pass from Shaun Stevenson put the winger over in the right corner to lead 15-7.
The Chiefs could have had a third, but a break from Roe yielded nothing, as the halfback didn't return a pass to the unmarked Shaun Stevenson inside him, and lost possession in the tackle of Noah Lolesio.
Another McKenzie penalty extended the lead to 18-7, before Nanai-Seturo had another assist, this time sending McKenzie over for the third try of the first half, and a 25-7 lead at the break.
After halftime, Stevenson could have added a fourth, only to drop the ball with the tryline in sight, as the Brumbies stopped the bleeding to start the second half.
Toole added his second impressive finish of the match when he dived over in the corner, and closed the scoreline to within two converted tries at 25-12, only for the Chiefs to immediately respond through Josh Ioane.
In the final 15 minutes, any slim hope of a Brumbies comeback was ended by replacement halfback Cortez Ratima, after an offload from Naitoa Ah Kuoi gave the Chiefs their fifth.
Minutes later, Ratima had his second, when a clearing kick was charged down by Manaaki Selby-Rickit, as another offload freed the halfback to run away for yet another try, as a broken Brumbies watched on.
The only blemish for the Chiefs came through a red card to prop Jared Proffit, who was sent to the sin bin under review for head-on-head contact with Brumbies lock Caderyn Neville, and saw his side finish with 14.
Fresh from victory over Australia's top side, the Chiefs can add the scalp of the second next weekend, when they travel to face the Reds in Brisbane.
The Hurricanes have the chance to leapfrog both the Chiefs and the Blues in Sunday's final match, when they face the Reds at the same venue.
Chiefs 46 (Roe, Nanai-Seturo, McKenzie, Ioane, Ratima 2 tries; McKenzie 5 conversions; McKenzie 2 penalties)
ACT Brumbies 12 (Toole 2 tries; Lolesio conversions)
