Wallace Sititi and Samisoni Taukei'aho both bagged a brace of tries as the Chiefs held off the Reds 31-21 in Brisbane to make it six successive wins in Super Rugby Pacific.
The two All Blacks forwards were among the better performers for the visitors, who had to work hard to see off the tough Queenslanders, who closed within three points entering the dying stages.
The impressive Sititi burst clear off the back of a scrum for his second try to make the outcome safe and lift the Chiefs level with the Hurricanes at the top of the standings.
However, the Hurricanes have a game in hand, to be played against last-placed Moana Pasifika on Saturday night.
Sititi also scored the Chiefs' first try, in response to an early score from Reds winger Lachie Anderson.
Damian McKenzie's boot put the New Zealand side 10-7 ahead after a tense first half, before the game broke open after the interval.
Both of Taukei'aho's tries came from lineout drives, while the Reds stayed in the game with spectacular tries from Louis Werchon and Treyvon Pritchard.
The Reds drop from fourth to fifth, while the Chiefs can go close to locking in a home match in the first round of the play-offs if they beat the Highlanders in Hamilton next week.
Queensland's victory hopes were dealt a blow when Jeff Toomaga-Allen was yellow-carded in the 69th minute, with Taukei'aho scoring another rolling maul try just moments later, before the Reds landed one final blow through Pritchard.
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