All Blacks centre Richard Kahui scored a crucial bonus-point try as the Chiefs defeated Western Stormers of South Africa 28-14 on Saturday in the final Super 14 match of the weekend.

The touchdown three minutes from full-time not only sealed victory for the visitors, but earned them the extra point for crossing the tryline four times, which lifted the unfashionable North Island side two places to second on the table and above the Bulls on points differential.

And if Chiefs defeat the leaders and compatriots the Hurricanes at home next weekend they will take over top place with just one round to go.

While the Hurricanes remained first on 39 points, the Bulls and Sharks of South Africa went second before the Chiefs win saw them take over second spot.

Finishing among the top two guarantees a home semi-final and history shows that with just a seven-day gap between the pool and knockout phases, visiting teams are at a huge disadvantage.

"Facing the Hurricanes next weekend is an exciting prospect although there is still an awful long way to go in this tournament," warned Chiefs fullback and skipper Mils Muliaina.

"Patience was the key to our success tonight and completed what I consider to be a successful tour of South Africa although we did lose to the Bulls," the All Black added.

Flanker and captain Luke Watson hailed the Stormers, who lost fullback Conrad Jantjes with what appeared to be a serious leg injury and flanker Schalk Burger in the opening half at chilly Newlands.

"There was no shortage of effort nor lack of strategy, but the loss of two Springboks before half-time was a massive blow. I thought we displayed a lot of character to keep plugging away," he said.

Fly-half Willem de Waal scored his first Super 14 try for the Cape Town team and converted it before fly-half Stephen Donald converted tries by flanker Liam Messam and scrum-half Toby Morland to give Chiefs a 14-7 half-time lead.

Messam lost possession over the tryline, but Morland struck again on 65 minutes and Donald converted once more to raise his Super 14 points tally to 104 this season.

After replacement fly-half Mike Delany converted the Kahui try, Stormers Fijian wing Sireli Naqelevuki forced his way over in the final minute and centre Peter Grant converted.

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