Richie McCaw has no doubt the Chiefs can win their maiden Super Rugby crown, as long as they maintain their intensity for one more week.

McCaw’s Crusaders couldn’t match the hustle of a dynamic and determined Chiefs in Friday night’s semi-final at Waikato Stadium, going down 20-17.

The Chiefs will either host the Sharks in next weekend’s final or travel to Cape Town to face the Stormers, depending on the result of the all-South African semi-final on Sunday morning (AEST).

All Blacks and Crusaders skipper McCaw admitted his side were “a few notches off” their best but lauded a power-packed Chiefs showing. He believed the Waikato-based outfit have the necessary firepower to go all the way if they can find another peak.

“That’s always the challenge in sport but if they’re able to get to that level again, then there’s no reason that they can’t.”

McCaw said the Chiefs’ ability to win quick ruck ball proved decisive, especially in the first half when they scored both their tries through prop Sona Taumalo and flanker Liam Messam.

It led to back-pedalling Crusaders defenders falling off far too many tackles.

“And they ran particularly hard at us, guys like Liam and Sonny (Bill Williams), and when you’re a bit flat-footed, they’re hard men to tackle.”

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder believed his side were too error-ridden to deserve a spot in an 11th final.

His counterpart Dave Rennie said the Chiefs were far better mentally than during their consecutive losses to the Crusaders and Hurricanes to end the regular season.

“We don’t want to use it as an excuse but we just weren’t as desperate in those last couple of games,” Rennie said.

“This time you could see from the opening whistle there was more intensity in everything we did.

“There were a lot of guys who made big contributions defensively so it made a massive difference.”

Rennie and Chiefs skipper Craig Clarke were both unconcerned about who they face in the final.