View photosKEY POINTS:
The Chiefs have got what they want: full control of their own semifinal aspirations.
The task is simple on paper: win their last three games, with bonus points, and they should be in the playoffs.
It is certainly achievable. One snag: those games include hosting the formidable Sharks in Hamilton this Saturday and visiting the defending champion Crusaders - who are now top of the ladder - in the final round.
Think what you will about bonus points, but the Chiefs this season have been poster boys for the benefits of the system.
Only the Crusaders can match their nine from 10 games and they have picked up at least one from each of their five losses.
That's meant that, despite Saturday being just their fourth win, they're in the playoff frame.
Sharks coach Dick Muir, buoyed by their rousing win over the Blues, is making all the right noises ahead of their trip to Hamilton.
"I think the Chiefs are very dangerous. They're an outstanding outfit," Muir said.
"They've certainly got some gamebreakers and probably will feel hard done by if they don't make a semifinal, because they deserve to be in one."
For all that their nine-try pasting of the Force had loads of attacking exuberance, the Chiefs know they can't leave the Defence 101 manual in the dressing room from now on.
Both teams were guilty of sloppy tackling in this 100-point fiesta but there's no doubting which side were the poorer in one of the foundation planks of successful rugby.
Having begun smartly, the Force fell away as the Chiefs turned on the razzle, with hat-tricks for wing Roy Kinikinilau and halfback Brendon Leonard among their tries.
Both had reason for delight at their returns. Kinikinilau has been outshone in the try department by Lelia Masaga on the other flank.
But Saturday was Roy's Revenge as he snared a 75m intercept and runaway; showed his strength to stretch out an arm in a tackle to score between the posts; and was on hand to capitalise on fine leadup work by Leonard and the impressive Liam Messam near the end.
And Leonard demonstrated that while locks may be furrowing All Black selectors' brows, they will figure there is decent depth among the country's No 9s.
With three of them at Waikato Stadium, Leonard put up a hand in a "don't forget about me" display.
He came on after the first quarter when Byron Kelleher's nose was pushed about his face in trying to stop the outstanding Matt Giteau scoring the first of his two fine tries.
Sharp running enabled Leonard to nab two splendid solo tries and he rounded the scoring off by diving boldly between two tacklers for his third just before the end.
Kelleher, Piri Weepu, Andrew Ellis, Jimmy Cowan ... there's a full hand of useful operatives behind the scrum.
"The scrum was working well so there was some great space for me," Leonard said. "For some reason it was my day. Things opened up for me."
Chiefs coach Ian Foster said: "We've been challenging guys who haven't been starting to make sure when they get their opportunity to add value. He [Leonard] was fantastic."
But for all their attacking verve, stiffening the defensive line will be a top priority for the Chiefs this week.
