KEY POINTS:
A fifth win on the trot tonight, against the Reds in Hamilton, would break the franchise's record for consecutive wins. That mark currently stands at four, a feat the Chiefs achieved over the closing four matches of last season and in 1999.
A seventh win in 10 matches tonight would also tie the franchise record for wins in a season, a mark they have reached in three of their last four campaigns.
The Chiefs will start short-priced favourites against a Reds team that posted its most recent away win over two years ago, over the Lions in Johannesburg. Their winless streak on the road now spans 14 matches, with the best result over that stretch a 24-24 draw against the Lions in round six.
Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina insists his side aren't taking anything for granted, however. There was no prospect of complacency sneaking in after last Friday night's victory over the previously unbeaten Crusaders, a team that Muliaina said set the benchmark for consistency. Big victories needed to become the norm, rather than one-off events.
"You play well and you win but you've got to keep tracking along," Muliaina said.
"You've got to put it aside and keep playing well. The good thing is [our fate] is in our hands now. We can either go away and play poorly or continue to win and play the best rugby we can."
Victory tonight would keep the Chiefs firmly in the playoff picture as they head off on a round robin-ending road trip against the Force, Lions and Sharks.
Muliaina said the team wasn't looking that far ahead.
"We have just got to keep producing the goods."
The resurgence of their forward pack has been one of the keys to the Chiefs' mid-season revival. Form prop Simms Davison has been replaced by Ben May for tonight's match but otherwise the pack has a steady look to it.
Lock Toby Lynn has been a dominating presence in the lineout, while the loose forward trio of Sione Lauaki, Liam Messam and Tanerau Latimer have been winning the battle at breakdown time. It is a stark turnaround for a pack that was smashed to pieces by the the Blues, Hurricanes and Stormers in the season's first month.
"There's no doubt there has been huge progress there this year," coach Ian Foster said. "I think what it shows is that a pack needs plenty of time to gel and to get into a rhythm. A lot of the guys hadn't been used to starting Super 14 week-in and week-out and I guess we learned a few lessons early. It is a credit to them that we have learnt those lessons well and are progressing."
Hooker Tom Willis announced yesterday he is leaving New Zealand to play for the Newport Gwent Dragons next season.
The Reds might struggle away from home but they are coming off a convincing 29-12 victory over the Force last week. Giant prop Rodney Blake has returned to bolster the scrum but the Reds will be light on firepower without injured veterans Sam Cordingley and Chris Latham.
That is something that can't be said of the Chiefs, for whom the back three of Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga and first five-eighths Stephen Donald have been in
sparkling form.
CHIEFS
Hamilton, 7.35pm
1 Ben May
2 Tom Willis
3 Ben Castle
4 Toby Lynn
5 Kevin O'Neill
6 Liam Messam
7 Tanerau Latimer
8 Sione Lauaki
9 Jamie Nutbrown
10 Stephen Donald
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu
12 D. Sweeney
13 Richard Kahui
14 Lelia Masaga
15 Mils Muliaina (c)
REDS
15 C. Schifcofske
14 Brando Va'aulu
13 Morgan Turinui
12 Berrick Barnes
11 Peter Hynes
10 Quade Cooper
9 Ben Lucas
8 Leroy Houston
7 David Croft
6 John Roe
5 J. Horwill (c)
4 Van Humphries
3 Rodney Blake
2 Stephen Moore
1 Ben Coutts
CHIEFS: Aled de Malmanche, Simon Lemalu, Jay Williams, Faifili Levave, David Bason, Callum Bruce, Sosene Anesi
REDS: Sean Hardman, Dayna Edwards, Ed O'Donoghue, Poutasi Luafutu, Will Genia, Charlie Fetoai, Digby Ioane The Chiefs are closing in on uncharted territory.
