A war of attrition got the better of the gallant Highlanders as the Chiefs made good on their 'must win' promise to reignite their season with a brutal 20-7 victory at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.
The Chiefs eventually defied the form book, squared the ledger after losing 23-13 to the Highlanders in round two, celebrated All Black fullback Mils Muliaina's 50th match for the franchise and kept their slim playoff hopes alive, but the Highlanders made all the play before their soldiers departed, one-by-one to the casualty ward.
Impressive blindside flanker Adam Thomson suffered a rib knock just before half-time but that was just the tip of the injury iceberg for the undermanned Highlanders, who had emptied their bench with 20-minutes to play.
After losing in-form finisher Kade Poki before kickoff, the Highlanders were forced to further reshuffle their backline when winger James Paterson went off with a shoulder injury. Matt Saunders moved to second five-eighths, 2009 All Black Ben Smith shifted to his favoured fullback role from No.12 and Robinson went to the wing.
The Chiefs weren't spared, either. First-five eighths Stephen Donald and openside flanker Scott Waldrom (shoulder) left the field prematurely in their much-improved second-half effort.
The fifth-placed Highlanders sat 14-points and four wins better off than the home side but cracks are now beginning to appear as the long Super Rugby season takes its toll.
After returning from South Africa on the back off their seventh loss and sitting bottom of the New Zealand conference, the Chiefs simply had to front.
Though they weren't convincing and lacked a killer punch they will gladly take the win.
He hadn't played for the Highlanders since late February but there were no signs of rust from New Zealand Under-20 and former Wellington first five-eighths Lima Sopoaga.
Back from a shoulder injury to halt the Highlanders' No.10 woes with Colin Slade and Tony Brown out, Sopoaga took just eight minutes to make his mark. A sublime left-foot step beat prop Ben Afeaki and his long ball picked out Jason Rutledge on the wing as the hooker strolled over. Sopoaga did not have the kicking duties, but fullback Robbie Robinson made amends for a missed penalty.
Donald did not enjoy being upstaged by his youthful opposite, so he knocked over two penalties to reward the Chiefs' attacking raids.
While the Chiefs threatened and appeared more enterprising, the Southerners venom at the breakdown – a hallmark of their over-achieving season – consistently snuffed out the home side's chances.
The Highlanders goal-kicking success sits under 60-percent this year and Robinson could not improve that as he missed a chance to extend the 7-6 half-time lead.
Thomson did not return because of a rib injury after the break in one of three changes to the Highlanders' forward pack. Flanker Nick Crosswell, All Black lock Tom Donnelly and hooker Brayden Mitchell's injection meant only halfback Aaron Smith was left on the hospitalised reserve bench.
The Chiefs sniffed blood and quickly took advantage of their weakened opposition. Halfback Brendon Leonard snipped across from close range and Donald converted to snatch a 13-7 lead.
Donald then fluffed three points and blew a certain try with a pass a schoolboy would be ashamed of.
Controlling all the ball and field position in the second forty, turnovers kept proving the Chiefs' Achilles. As Donald also departed, Dwayne Sweeny missed a third penalty.
But Liam Messam sealed the result with a try on full-time.
Scorers were:
Chiefs 20
Tries: Leonard, Messam
Con: Donald
Pen: Donald 2
Highlanders 7
Tries: Rutledge
Con: Robinson
HT: 6-7