The Chiefs heaped more pressure on the lowly Reds with a narrow 21-19 victory in their Super 14 clash at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

A penalty three minutes from fulltime by Stephen Donald saw the Chiefs sneak back-to-back Super 14 rugby victories with a messy performance.

Donald's penalty, which followed two misses from handy position in the second half, was enough for the Chiefs to follow up their breakthrough 34-7 win over the Lions a week ago.

They kept their discipline in the dying minutes as the Eddie Jones-coached Reds attacked in search of their first win, but an Andrew Walker dropped goal attempt on the fulltime hooter flew wide.

Buoyed by their big win last week as they welcomed back their All Blacks Byron Kelleher and Sitiveni Sivivatu, the Chiefs made much harder work of the victory than they should have in the steamy Brisbane heat.

They scored two tries to one, both of them from lock Kristian Ormsby.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster had made five changes to the side, with Kelleher putting in a typically busy display while Sivivatu looked in need of the run.

Both sides reflected their lowly spots on the ladder with an error-ridden match where the whistle of South African referee Willie Roos also played a big part at the breakdown and scrums.

The result launched the Chiefs to a mid-table position and kept their playoff hopes alive but they face a big ask to make it three straight next Saturday when they host the in-form Blues.

The Chiefs led 10-3 early on but trailed 10-16 at halftime after flanker Liam Messam spent the last 10 minutes of the half in the sin bin due to a high tackle.

Teenage Reds first five-eighth Quade Cooper, who was born in raised in Waikato heartland Tokoroa, had a horror night, dropping a host of passes as his side threatened an upset.

Ormsby's second try three minutes into the second half, from a blockbusting run from All Black Sione Lauaki, narrowed the gap to one point.

The Chiefs finally nudged their way into the lead 25 minutes before fulltime when Donald landed a penalty.

Veteran Reds fullback Walker, one of their best on the night, regained the lead with a long-range penalty seven minutes from time but the Chiefs mounted one last raid to sneak the win.

Reds (16) 19
Try: Croft
Con: Walker
Pen: Walker (4)

Chiefs (10) 21
Tries: Donald, Ormsby
Con: Donald
Pen: Donald (3)