The Reds were given a scare by the Waratahs in their final game of the regular season and will know they must produce their performance of the year to beat the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals.
Battling for a 27-26 at the rock-bottom Waratahs will have done little to boost confidence in the Reds camp but they head to Hamilton to face a Chiefs side who lost in their final game of the regular season.
After a 31-17 defeat at the hands of the Blues in Auckland, the Chiefs are back in the home comforts of FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday evening and will be determined to get back in the saddle and secure a return to the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals.
. What: Chiefs v Reds
. Where: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
. When: 17:05 (AEST), Friday 7th June 2024
. How to watch: Stan Sports
. Odds: Chiefs 1.22, Reds 4.20
Reds can look to previous success
There has been little to choose from between these sides in recent years, as they have alternated wins over the last six encounters in this competition,
Their last meeting was back in March and it was the Reds who were victorious, as they ran out 25-19 winners against the Chiefs.
Winning in Hamilton, like it is for all visiting sides, has been a much tougher prospect, with the Reds winning just one of their last four games at the home of the Chiefs.
Revenge might well be on the agenda for the Reds, as they met against the Chiefs at this stage of the competition last season, only to lose 29-20.
In their last six meetings, the winning margin has been nine points or fewer, again demonstrating that there is little to choose from between these sides and just a couple of big moments could decide Friday night's game.
The Reds are the underdogs at 4.20 to head back to Brisbane with a victory, while the visitors are available at 1.91 with +10.5 in the Line market.
Chiefs are finals animals
With an outstanding record in the Super Rugby Pacific finals the Chiefs are 1.22 to claim the win on Friday night.
The Chiefs have won eight of their last nine Super Rugby Pacific finals games when hosting and they will be determined to go one better than last season after finishing runners-up in the grand final.
A tense and thrilling encounter awaits in Hamilton, in a match the Chiefs are 1.60 to be leading at both the half-time and full-time whistles.
After what could be a somewhat cagey first 40 minutes, 1.95 odds are available on the second 40 to provide the highest-scoring half.
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