Rugby: Crushed Chiefs still have destiny in own hands despite hiding in deep south

Michael Leitch looks up in disbelief after the Chiefs' loss in Invercargill. Photo / Getty Images

They were handed their worst defeat of the season and held tryless for the first time in 25 games - but the Chiefs' finals fate remains firmly in their control.

While the hiding they received against the Highlanders on Saturday night was a blow to their hopes of finishing fourth, the Chiefs can still clinch a playoff place with a win over the lowly Reds this weekend.

Victory in Brisbane would seal at least a fifth-place finish and, while hardly ideal, given they entered last season's playoffs in that position before quickly bowing out against the Brumbies, such a scenario would be welcomed after their efforts in cold and foggy Invercargill.

The Chiefs were outplayed by the home team at Rugby Park in a match that was billed as the biggest of both sides' seasons.

The final margin was 27 points - the Chiefs' four losses previously this season came by a combined total of nine - and they were kept without a try for the first time since last March.

"We were flat right throughout and got outplayed right across the park," said coach Dave Rennie.

"We turned over a bit of pill and never got in a position to stress them for any period of time. I felt at halftime we were right in the game but we made just too many errors."

But the performance was completely out of character for a Chiefs team that had been poor in brief patches this season but rarely so uninspired for 40 minutes. And the fact it was so atypical will provide some encouragement should the sides meet again in a few weeks.

After all, two years ago the Chiefs were thumped by the Crusaders in the penultimate round before turning the tables in the playoffs en route to their second championship.

If the season finished today, the Chiefs would again be heading south to tackle the Highlanders in the opening week of the finals.

Playing under a roof would help their cause, after the Chiefs struggled to adapt to tough conditions in Invercargill, but a lighter injury load would make the biggest difference.

Rennie was hopeful that outside backs Tom Marshall and James Lowe would have a chance of featuring against the Reds, while locking pair Brodie Retallick and Matt Symons are also close to coming back.

Sonny Bill Williams should return before the playoffs and positive health news from Liam Messam would also hardly hurt.

Those six players would all be picked in a first-choice XV, but Rennie wasn't about to make excuses.

"We still had a good enough side on the field but just did not play well enough."