The Chiefs have booked their place in the semi-finals with a 43-21 win over the Queensland Reds in Hamilton.
It was a first half blitz that delivered the Chiefs the win, taking a 31-0 lead into the break.
Catch every game of Super Rugby Pacific LIVE, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport.
Hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho got a double as the hosts ran away with the contest.
Tate McDermott fought to get the Reds back into the match with a second half double.
However, the result was never in question as Bradley Slater closed out the win.
With three victories over New Zealand opposition for the first time since 2013, including a watershed win over the defending champion Crusaders in Christchurch and round-three defeat of the Chiefs in Brisbane, the Reds truly believed they were title contenders in 2024.
But their dreams were shattered inside 15 minutes on Friday night when the Chiefs raced to a 21-0 lead through an early try-scoring double to hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho and one to winger Emoni Narawa.
Ferocious at the breakdown, the Chiefs dominated physically.
But it was a brilliant chip from master playmaker Damian McKenzie and regather and kick-on from fullback Shaun Stevenson that set up the Chiefs' fourth try - finished by Etene Nanai-Seturo - and match-winning halftime lead.
Queensland briefly threatened a fightback with the first try of the second half through co-captain and Wallabies No.9 Tate McDermott.
But normal service resumed as All Blacks ace Anton Lienert-Brown crossed for the Chiefs' fifth try in the 55th minute to extend to the hosts' insurmountable lead to 38-7.
McDermott grabbed a second for the Reds but it was merely a consolation.
Queensland's tails-between-the-legs exit from the competition leaves the ACT Brumbies as Australia's best chance of breaking the Kiwis' decade-long trans-Tasman stranglehold on the Super Rugby title.
But as well as needing to take out the Highlanders in Canberra on Saturday, the Brumbies are now relying on the soon-to-be-extinct Melbourne Rebels upsetting the table-topping Hurricanes to secure a home semi-final.
Otherwise the Brumbies will be heading to New Zealand needing to become the first Australian team to win a finals match across the Tasman to remain in the title hunt.
Tries: Taukei'aho 2, Narawa, Nanai-Seturo, Lienert-Brown, Slater
Cons: McKenzie 5/6
Pens: McKenzie 1/1
Tries: McDermott 2, Creighton
Cons: Lynagh 1/1, Creighton 2/2
CHIEFS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei'aho, George Dyer, Jimmy Tupou, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai Seturo, Rameka Poihipi, Anton Lienert-Brown, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
RESERVES: Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit, Reuben O'Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona
REDS (1-15): Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, John Bryant, Tate McDermott (co-c), Tom Lynagh, Mac Grealy, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Tim Ryan, Jock Campbell
RESERVES: Josh Nasser, Sef Fa'agase, Zane Nonggorr, Connor Vest, Joe Brial, Kalani Thomas, Lawson Creighton, Taj Annan
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
