Bundee Aki's try with 10 minutes to go gave the Chiefs their precious buffer and it was probably deserved after he was judged to have obstructed Tom Taylor in the build-up to Charlie Ngatai's disallowed try only minutes earlier.
However, the foundations for this victory were set earlier - in the 10-plus minutes they defended their line as if their lives depended on it. It was a defensive performance which suggested they are definitely in with a shout to defend their title.
After Aaron Cruden's penalty put them to within a point at 19-18 they had to hold out a series of Crusaders attacks which saw Kieran Read denied by a desperate Aki and then again close to the line.
The Chiefs simply waited it out and then swept back on to attack with barely an acknowledgement of all the tackling they had done.
Dave Rennie's men had started the match a little tentatively, as if they didn't know how to go about breaking down a Crusaders defence which has gone to a new level in recent weeks. Their own form hadn't been vintage either, but they were still winning.
They need not have worried too much. Two charge downs provided their first-half tries - Cruden making the crucial block as Carter attempted to clear from under his posts, the Chiefs first-five showing admirable poise to pick up and score.
Lock Craig Clarke was next to cash in, responding to a Matt Todd close-range try with an excellent charge down of his own, this time on Tom Marshall's attempted clearance.
It was a good response from the home team after early pressure from the Crusaders. Todd Blackadder's men had gone about their work in an efficient and workmanlike way, picking up three points after Ben Tameifuna conceded a scrum penalty in his fierce contest against Wyatt Crockett.
The Crusaders didn't panic when they were down 7-3 after Cruden's intervention either. There was a feeling of inevitability when Read signalled for the sideline rather than the posts when presented with an attacking penalty and his forward pack repaid his faith - claiming the lineout and scoring through Todd after a series of surges in which Read played a big part.
The Crusaders held the lead for only five minutes, though, Cruden slotting a penalty and then his skipper Clarke showing extremely good game sense to put pressure on Marshall when the wing tried to clear on his own tryline.
After the break and Taylor put the crusaders in front with his two penalties only for the Chiefs' defensive rearguard and ultimate victory.
Cruden's late penalty denied the Crusaders a bonus point.
Chiefs 28 (Aaron Cruden, Craig Clarke, Bundee Aki tries; Cruden 2 cons, 3 pens)
Crusaders 19 (Matt Todd try; Tom Taylor con, 4 pens)
HT: 15-13
