First-five Damian McKenzie slotted a matchwinning penalty in the final minutes, as his Chiefs escaped with a 26-23 victory over Melbourne Rebels across the Tasman.
With their Super Rugby Pacific future uncertain, the Rebels were playing their final home game of the season - and perhaps ever - and showed they still have a part to play in the competition, as they came within 90 seconds of 'Golden Point' against one of the title favourites.
They drew even with a late second try to winger Lachie Anderson, converted from the sideline by second-five Nick Jooste, but immediately conceded a penalty at the other end to relinquish their grip on the contest.
Melbourne actually outscored their rivals three tries to two, but McKenzie's unerring boot proved the difference.
From the opening kickoff, the Chiefs were immediately on attack, with Shaun Stevenson causing anxiety, as he kicked into the goal area for a dropout, and captain Luke Jacobson re-entering the 22 from the kick.
McKenzie put first points on the board with a penalty, but Rebels winger Glen Vaihu had the opening try, brushing aside Stevenson's attempted tackle in the process.
A penalty from Jooste stretched the home advantage and the Chiefs weren't helping themselves, with basic errors in strong positions.
From one of those mistakes, the Chiefs pack overpowered the Rebels scrum and piled on phases inside the 22, before lock Tupou Vaa'i stretched out to score. McKenzie's conversion put the visitors back in front.
Vaa'i was shown a yellow card for head contact in a cleanout on Rebels first-five Carter Gordon, who subsequently left the field for a concussion check.
As halftime loomed and Vaa'i returned to the fray, Jooste slotted a penalty for the lead, but after the siren, McKenzie responded in kind for a 13-11 advantage at the break.
Immediately on the restart, the Chiefs were under pressure, when a loose pass had McKenzie scrambling behind his own goal-line, before Stevenson's desperation touchfinder reached almost halfway.
Once they got their hands back on the ball, they were back on the frontfoot, with winger Etene Nanai-Seturo looming on the opposite side of the field to put Emoni Narawa over in the corner, but the try was rubbed out for a knockon in the build-up.
They were playing under advantage and from the penalty, they opted for an attacking lineout and hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho was too powerful to stop at the back of the maul.
McKenzie added some more breathing room with a penalty, but the Rebels enjoyed a period inside the 22, with Anderson finding the corner for a try.
Inside the last 10 minutes, Melbourne were within a converted try and the Chiefs were still tripping over themselves, unable to put the contest to bed. A midfield penalty gave the home side another attacking chance that resulted in Anderson's second try.
Jooste's conversion levelled the scores, but a penalty in front of the posts enabled McKenzie to kick the winner, using up as much of the shot clock as possible.
As the final seconds ticked down, the Rebels had their hands on the ball inside Chiefs territory, but their last hopes evaporated, when it squirted forward from centre Filipo Daugunu.
"It became pretty scrappy at the end there and a lot of change in possession," reflected Jacobson. "It felt a little bit comfortable and we had them on the pump, then we turned the ball over and they'd come right back down our end and get some points.
"We knew they'd come out really hungry and they were, so we're happy to get a scrappy win in the end."
The Chiefs edge past ACT Brumbies into third on the competition table, but the top Aussies host the crumbling Crusaders at Canberra on Saturday afternoon. The Hamiltonians face a torrid end to their regular season, facing the top two teams in succession - Hurricanes next Friday and the Blues at Eden Park the following week.
Ironically, the Rebels should still qualify for their first playoff appearance in their last season, sitting 11 points clear of ninth-placed Western Force, but they visit the Brumbies next Friday.
Chiefs 26 (Vaa'i & Taukei'aho tries; McKenzie 4 penalties & 2 conversions) Melbourne Rebels 23 (Anderson 2, Vaihu tries; Jooste 2 penalties & conversion)
