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Waikato Chiefs secured home advantage for next week's Super 14 semi-finals with a gritty 10-7 win over ACT Brumbies in Hilton.

Chiefs fly-half Stephen Donald (pictured) kicked a penalty 12 minutes from full-time to seal his team's win after the sides went into the break deadlocked at 7-7.

Donald also scored and converted his team's only try after the Brumbies had taken the lead in the 34th minute when wing Francis Fainifo touched down.

The final round result ensured the Chiefs will finish either top or second in the standings, and made the play-offs for only the second time since the start of Super rugby in 1996.

The previous occasion was 2004.

"We're absolutely delighted," Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina said.

"It was pretty tough out there, it wasn't a spectacle but this is what we wanted to achieve.

"A win's a win, we're into that top four now, so what more can you ask for?"

The Brumbies, champions in 2001 and 2004, collected a bonus point to move into the top four but their slim hopes of making the playoffs depend on each of the three teams directly below them losing this weekend.

"While we were brave, we probably coughed up too much pill," Brumbies skipper Stephen Hoiles said.

"To take one point out of it probably won't be enough. It leaves us in the top four at the moment but we need a few unlikely results to go our way."

Lions 33-38 Waratahs

New South Wales Waratahs beat the Lions 38-33 in a dramatic final-round Super 14 match on Friday.

The Lions, who conceded four tries in a one-sided first half, staged a fightback to lead 33-31 with four minutes to play.

Waratahs replacement Tom Carter then scored a last-gasp try to keep alive his team's hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.

The Waratahs are third in the table but the Australians must wait until the completion of the round-robin stages on Saturday to discover their fate.

The Lions, out of the running for the playoffs, are 10th.

The visitors made a flying start when full-back Lachlan Turner and lock Dean Mumm scored tries in the opening 10 minutes, fly-half Daniel Halangahu kicking both conversions.

The Lions responded with a penalty and drop goal by fly-half Andre Pretorius, who also converted scrum-half Jano Vermaak's 15th-minute try.

The Waratahs took control with touchdowns from captain Phil Waugh and wing Peter Playford before the home team rallied with 20 unanswered points thanks to another try by Vermaak and one from man of the match Willem Alberts.

Pretorius also booted a second drop goal and a penalty to take his points tally to 18 before Carter grabbed his late try and Halangahu notched his fifth conversion to add to an earlier penalty.

Reuters