Chiefs vs Highlanders Prediction: Chiefs to breeze past Highlanders

The Chiefs are on a roll right now in Super Rugby Pacific and they will take some stopping on Friday morning (08:05 BST, Sky Sport+) when they host the Highlanders at FMG Stadium Waikato.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Chiefs vs Highlanders prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in Hamilton.

Team News

Starting with the Chiefs, the hosts have Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei'aho and Sione Ahio in the front row, with locks Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Tupou Vaa'i in behind.

Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson and Wallace Sititi form the back row, while Xavier Roe and Josh Jacomb start in the half-backs.

Lalakai Foketi and Kyle Brown combine in the centres, while the Chiefs have a back three of Kyren Taumoefolau, Liam Coombes-Fabling and Damian McKenzie.

As for the visitors, the Highlanders have opted for Ethan de Groot, Jack Taylor and Angus Ta'avao in the front row, with Tomas Lavanini and Mitch Dunshea in the engine room.

TK Howden, Lucas Casey and Nikora Broughton complete the pack, with Adam Lennox and Cameron Millar in the engine room.

Timoci Tavatavanawai and Tanielu Tele'a start in the centres, while the Highlanders go with a back three of Jonah Lowe, Caleb Tangitau and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

Chiefs vs Highlanders Odds

The Chiefs are the 1/11 favourites to claim the victory on Friday morning, while the Highlanders are 6/1 underdogs to head back to Dunedin with a scalp. A draw in Hamilton is currently available at 28/1.

Chiefs -19 handicap @ 11/10

Currently on a six-game winning streak, the Chiefs are the form team in Super Rugby Pacific right now and look like serious title contenders once again this season.

Going into this game on the back of a 31-21 victory on the road against the Reds in Brisbane, the Chiefs are back in the home comforts of FMG Stadium Waikato and they look capable of putting the Highlanders to the sword.

The Chiefs are currently on an eight-game winning streak against the Highlanders, with their last defeat against the Dunedin outfit coming back in March 2021.

Winning all of their last three home games against the Highlanders by an average margin of 21.3 points, going for the hosts with the -19 handicap gets the green light here.

All Blacks star McKenzie is back in the No.15 jersey and, while his presence at fly-half might be slightly missed, his running game is far more dangerous from full-back.

Expect McKenzie and the other threats in the Chiefs' backline to cause this Highlanders' defence serious problems over the course of the 90 minutes.

The Chiefs won 46-10 the last time they hosted the Highlanders and a similar scoreline in Hamilton might well be on the cards on Friday morning.

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