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They may have done enough to squeak past the Highlanders, but the Chiefs know they won't get away with a similarly patchy effort against the Blues in what looms as a decisive Super 14 derby in Hamilton on Saturday night.
Having banked a second straight win thanks to a sublime sideline shuffle from Lelia Masaga, the Chiefs are within striking distance of the top four.
But, as the Super 14 heads firmly into mid-season territory and the table takes a more defined shape, the Waikato-based franchise are also just a defeat away from dropping off the pace.
That their fortunes are so finely balanced will add an extra dose of spice to an encounter with the Blues that is always highly anticipated regardless of the state of the protagonists' fortunes.
"It promises to be a very important game for both teams," said Chiefs coach Ian Foster.
Yes, but more important for the Chiefs, who need to make some serious mid-season hay before ending their campaign with a three-match African tour and matches against the Hurricanes and Brumbies.
The Chiefs have shown an ability to stay in matches this season; their three losses have all been close, as was Saturday's victory, when Masaga's flashing finish somewhat disguised his side's ongoing deficiencies.
"We were very pleased to get the four points, very pleased with the attitude in the last 10 minutes, very pleased with patches of our attacking game - but the rest of the game we will forget about," Foster said.
The biggest area of concern was the lineout, where Aled de Malmanche's throwing was again errant. A scrum that has been exposed as underpowered stood up well enough, although the Highlanders were able to do some damage when the Chiefs pack appeared to clock off.
Such blemishes against the Blues would almost certainly prove fatal.
"We have got to learn to concentrate for 80 minutes," Foster said.
"We know we can do it; we won some good ball [against the Highlanders]. But our concentration level and skill execution is not really at the level it needs to be at on a consistent basis.
"We reduced our handling errors by about 40 per cent, so we are taking steps and doing some good things. But as this competition goes on the teams that start to settle down and consistently play for 80 minutes are going to start progressing and it is important we do that."
Foster was most pleased with the two tries that ultimately proved decisive against a Highlanders side bristling with effort but sorely lacking in creativity.
A rare foray on to the fringes brought the Highlanders an opening try to Fetu'u Vainikolo before the Chiefs responded with a multi-phase, length-of-the-field gem finished by Tanerau Latimer. There wasn't a lot else to shout about until Masaga's late strike.
Not much seemed on when Sione Lauaki flipped a wide pass to Ben May and the prop simply shovelled the ball on to Masaga. Four players converged on the winger but he chopped inside Vainikolo, fended off Jimmy Cowan, ghosted past Tom Donnelly and stepped out of Israel Dagg's attempted tackle to glide over near the corner.
"The two tries we got I thought looked like us," Foster said.
"For the first time this year we held on to the ball, played some phases, our error rate dropped down, and we looked like we could really open them up just by being patient on attack."
With James Wilson's start on the wing cut short by a first-half leg injury and Soseni Anesi still out with a damaged shoulder, Foster will be sweating on the fitness of star wing Sitiveni Sivivatu.
The All Blacks flyer missed the trip to Invercargill with a shoulder injury, which will be reassessed today. Waikato's sevens star Tim Mikkelson has been drafted in as cover.
