Considering the Chiefs lost five from five against the Kiwi sides still alive in the Super Rugby playoffs, no arguments can be made of an unjust exit.

There were 16 long years between home playoff games for the Highlanders - but this one was well worth the wait.

Catch everything that happened in the big Super Rugby quarter-final between the Highlanders and the Chiefs.

Travelling south to tackle the Highlanders in Dunedin tonight is hardly how Dave Rennie drew up the Chiefs' playoff plans.

The player key to the Chiefs' attacking strategy will bring a couple of contradictory features tomorrow night.

A well-rested Sam Cane should send a shudder down the spine of any Highlander who attacks the line this Saturday night.

The Highlanders have nailed the Chiefs 36-9 and 20-17 this season but a third success, even under the roof in Dunedin, looks lineball at best. Wynne Gray tells us why.

Making the playoffs has been standard fare for the Chiefs in the Dave Rennie era and they collected championship crowns in 2012 and 2013.

The Hurricanes showed why they're the favourites to take their maiden title with a 21-13 win over the Chiefs in New Plymouth.

Follow along live with all the action as the Chiefs take on the Hurricanes at 7.35pm at Yarrow Stadium.

The Hurricanes used to label New Plymouth and the Taranaki region as "home" but after years of perceived neglect, the province threw their lot in with the Chiefs.

Tonight in New Plymouth, if all goes to plan, will merely be the second instalment of a trilogy that decides the Super Rugby season.

The Chiefs' injury load is easing at the right time but they will still be without a pair of frontline forwards for tomorrow's showdown with the Hurricanes.

Matt Symons had myriad reasons to rush his return from concussion and get back on the field with the Chiefs.

The angst surrounding Sonny Bill Williams just may be unfounded.

The Chiefs were embarrassed by last week's loss to the Highlanders and that feeling needed to be rectified sooner or later.

Chris Rattue writes: Come on Sonny Bill Williams - time for the world's greatest athlete to start walking the walk again.

It’s an outcome that is the new normal under Dave Rennie — the Chiefs tonight reached the playoffs for the fourth straight season to continue their hunt for another title.

Could there be any truth to the rumours across the Ditch that Sonny Bill Williams will sit out the rest of the series?

The Chiefs are unbeaten with Brodie Retallick in their ranks this season but, without the big lock, have lost more than they've won.

Liam Messam leads the way with 21 penalties and one yellow card, with Ben Franks (18 penalties) and Richie McCaw (17 penalties, plus one yellow card) also high-profile offenders.

Highlanders wings Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne showed their class as they scored tries during their team's 36-9 win over the Chiefs during the weekend, but where do they rank among the competition's best tackle-busters?