The Blues have booked their spot in the Super Rugby Pacific Final with a 34-20 win over the ACT Brumbies in Auckland.
The hosts capitalised on a slow start from Stephen Larkham's men as they took a 24-6 lead after the first quarter.
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The Brumbies refused to let the game blow out as Rob Valetini's try gave them a chance as they entered the half-time break.
However, the Blues defence proved the difference in the second half to hold out the Brumbies' desperate attack.
Hoskins Sotutu's try with 20 minutes to go sealed the win and their place in next week's Final.
After losing veteran Test prop James Slipper in the warm-up when his calf injury flared, the Brumbies' night went from bad to worse at Australian rugby's hoodoo ground Eden Park.
As well as Slipper's omission, the Canberra team were forced into another late change for the Friday night clash with flanker Tom Hooper ruled out through illness.
The Brumbies, who have now failed to go beyond the final four for a third straight year, were targeting a fast start as they looked to become the first Australian team to win a play-off in New Zealand soil since the competition started in 1996.
But the Blues drew first blood with centre AJ Lam scoring in the second minute after they sent the ball wide to cross after a 14-phase build-up.
After a Brumbies penalty strike that lead was extended to 12-3 after eight minutes, with Blues hooker Ricky Riccitelli bagging a try off the back of a rolling maul.
Another Noah Lolesio penalty kept the Brumbies in the hunt but on the back of costly errors, the home side pushed the lead out to a commanding 24-6 after 20 minutes, with lock Sam Darry and winger Caleb Clarke crossing with ease.
To the Brumbies' credit they regrouped, and after winger Corey Toole came within centimetres of scoring, flanker Rob Valetini burrowed over with the teams going to halftime 27-13.
In greasy conditions the Brumbies continued to make uncharacteristic mistakes, with the Blues' stiff defence and dominant set piece keeping the pressure on.
Blues No.8 Hoskins Sotutu landed a hammer blow in the 59th minute, although flanker Luke Reimer replied to cut the margin to 14 points with 10 minutes to play.
But the final nail in the coffin came when the visitors lost lock Nick Frost to a yellow card for tackling a rival in the air, leaving the visitors to play out the match a man down.
Tries: Lam, Riccitelli, Darry, Clarke, Sotutu
Cons: Plummer 3/5
Pens: Plummer 1/2
Tries: Valetini, Reimer
Cons: Lolesio 2/2
Pens: Lolesio 2/2
BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Josh Beehre, Sam Darry, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali'i (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele'a, Stephen Perofeta
RESERVES: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu'a, Angus Ta'avao, James Thompson, Adrian Choat, Taufa Funaki, Corey Evans, Cole Forbes
BRUMBIES (1-15): Rhys van Nek, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa (c), Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Tamati Tua, Len Ikitau, Andy Muirhead, Tom Wright
RESERVES: Liam Bowron, Harry Vella, Sosefo Kautai, Nick Frost, Jahrome Brown, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Ollie Sapsford
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon
