The Chiefs have survived a fierce effort from the Highlanders to record a quality 26-23 win in Dunedin.

It makes it eight straight wins for the Chiefs against the Highlanders, starting their year with two quality away wins.

The Highlanders were playing with emotion after the tragic passing of prop Angus Ta’avao’s son Leo, with a moving tribute paid to him before the game.

Jona Nareki got the hosts off to the perfect start when a perfect cut-out from Folau Fakatava created the space for the winger to eventually cross.

Samisoni Taukei’aho responded for the Chiefs at the back of a powerful rolling maul to level the scores after nine minutes.

The visitors, who lost Jahrome Brown early to a HIA, started to break the Highlanders open through their wingers, forcing some desperate scramble defence.

Eventually, a wild period of play led to a spectacular Leroy Carter try, and the Chiefs led at the break.

Quinn Tuapea was the mastermind, catching the Highlanders napping after watching a cross-field kick fly just out of the reach of Sean Withy.

Tuapea proceeded to take the resulting lineout drop out quickly and race clear, finding his fellow All Black Carter for the five-pointer.

Cameron Millar reduced the margin to a point after the break with two early second-half penalties, only for another deadly Chiefs counterattack to turn the momentum.

Locks Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa’i combined for a stunning 90 metre effort and while Vaa’i was brought down, Nareki would go to the bin for a professional foul.

The hosts rallied and stopped several certain tries, with Taukei’aho held up and Simon Parker denied after failing to control the wicked bounce from Kyren Taumoefolau’s kick.

But as soon as Nareki returned from the bin, Taukei’aho got his second thanks to an errand line-out five metres from the Highlanders lineout that landed in the hooker’s grasp. Kalyum Boshier extended the lead with 13 minutes to go, giving the Chiefs a 13-point.

Caleb Tanigtau and Veveni Lasaqa both scored in the final ten minutes to record a losing bonus point, with missed conversions ending any hopes of an emotional victory.

Chiefs 26 (Tries: Taukei'aho 2, Boshier, Carter; Cons: Jacomb 3) def Highlanders 23 (Tries: Nareki, Lasaqa, Tangitau; Cons: Millar; Pens: Millar 2)

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (captain), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Lucas Casey, 7 Sean Withy, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Rohan Wingham, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a

Chiefs: 15 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Kaylum Boshier, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Jared Proffit
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Benet Kumeroa, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23 Emoni Narawa

Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant referees: Michael Winter, Ben Wollerton
TMO: Aaron Paterson