The Hurricanes have stretched their winning Super Rugby Pacific streak to eight games, but had to overcome concurrent yellow cards to emerge 38-15 winners over Fijian Drua at Suva.
Leading 28-12 in the second half, the visitors were desperately hanging on, and lost the services of flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi and lock Isaia Walker-Leawere in quick succession, as they were forced to defend with just 13 men.
So effective was the Hurricanes defence, their rivals eventually resorted to a penalty to progress their score, quickly cancelled out by second-five Jordie Barrett's long-range strike, and the two players returned to the field without giving away any ground.
The result extends the Hurricanes' lead atop the competition table to 10 points, with nearest rivals Blues and ACT Brumbies scheduled to meet at Auckland on Saturday
The Drua weathered an initial storm, which saw Hurricanes hooker James O'Reilly cut down, as he sprinted for the corner flag, captain Brad Shields held up over the tryline and an attacking scrum come to nothing.
From their next assault, winger Salesi Rayasi kicked into the Drua 22 and when the defence could not cover the threat, halfback TJ Perenara put centre Billy Proctor over for the opening try.
The home fans had something to cheer about, when young first-five Isikeli Rabitu showed his exciting ability, taking an inside ball from centre Iosefo Masi and sprinting 20 metres for a try.
From another probing kick and five-metre scrum, No.8 Devan Flanders took advantage of defensive indecision to stretch out and score.
The Drua had a chance to strike back from a penalty and attacking lineout, initially thwarted by a steal from debutant lock Ben Grant on his own goal-line, then stalled by a Drua knockon in a tackle.
Proctor was again the creator of the Hurricanes' third try, when he stepped the advancing Drua defence and found Perenara running a support line to put Barrett across untouched.
With halftime looking, the Hurricanes used an attacking lineout to maul to the tryline, with O'Reilly rewarded for his strong running throughout the opening 40 minutes.
Trailling 28-7 at the break, the Drua had an opportunity to strike early, after the restart, when first-five Aidan Morgan's clearing kick found touch on the full. From an attacking lineout, lock Isoa Nasilasila rose high to claim the throw at the back and then held on, as his pack drove him over the tryline.
The home side began the half stronger and continued to venture inside the 22, as the Hurricanes lost powerful hooker Asafo Aumua to injury, calling O'Reilly back to duty.
Moments later, Kirifi was yellow-carded for a high tackle. From the attacking scrum, No.8 Elia Canakaivata was brought down just short, but Walker-Leawere was also banished, leaving his team two men short and under intense goal-line pressure.
Another close-range scrum saw replacement halfback Nikola Matawalu held up over the line, as the Hurricanes continued to defend staunchly shorthanded.
Eventually, frustrated at their inability to crack the line, Drua settled for a penalty to bring them within two converted tries with 10 minutes remaining, but burning up previous seconds of those yellow cards.
Barrett cancelled out those points, while erasing a few more seconds, as Kirifi rejoined the fray. When Walker-Leawere returned, the Hurricanes had held their opponents to 3-3, despite their two-man handicap.
The Drua saw their final thrust nullified, when lock Caleb Delany wrapped up an attacking throw to a lineout and the Hurricanes were able to clear downfield.
With a penalty after the siren, they opted for an attacking lineout in search of a bonus point and drove prop Xaiver Numia across to achieve that.
The Hurricanes visit the top Aussie team - ACT Brumbies - next week in search of their ninth straight win.
Hurricanes 38 (Proctor, Flanders, Barrett, O'Reilly & Numia tries; Barrett & Morgan 4 conversions; Barrett penalty) Fijian Drua 15 (Rabitu, Nasilasila try; Valetini conversion & penalty
