Coach Les Kiss hailed his Queensland Reds' composure to see off the "emotion and spirit" of Moana Pasifika and seal their place in the Super Rugby play-offs.
A late try by fullback Jock Campbell lifted the Reds to a dramatic 33-31 win in Auckland on Saturday night, in what was possibly the final home game for cash-strapped Moana before the club folds.
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Trailing 26-7 early in the second half, Moana scored three rapid-fire tries and a penalty to storm 31-26 ahead.
With three minutes left on the clock, the Reds unfurled a slick move which sent the in-form Campbell across for their fifth try.
The result ensures the Reds can finish no lower than sixth and they will join the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Blues, Crusaders and ACT Brumbies in the finals series next month, regardless of the results in next week's final round of regular season matches.
Kiss hopes that his side's ruthless finish was a positive sign.
"As we have done three or four times this season, we held our nerve and found solutions when we had to," Kiss told reporters.
"You had to respect what was on the line for Moana Pasifika, the emotion and the spirit that came through for them. Their tackles were monstrous at times."
Reds and Wallabies scrum-half Tate McDermott impressed in his first game of the season, having overcome a hamstring injury.
Captain Fraser McReight said it was a "privilege" for the Reds to be the opposition on an auspicious occasion for Moana, a club set up five years ago to be a professional pathway for Pasific islands players.
Moana's owners are pulling their funding from the loss-making venture at the end of the season.
The last-placed team's coach, Tana Umaga, indicated that he had heard no update of any lifeline private offer to purchase their licence.
"This match kind of sums up our season really," Umaga said after overseeing a 12th straight loss.
"In key moments when we had a plan around things, we just weren't able to execute."
Moana's potential final game next week is against the Brumbies in Canberra while the Reds will host the Fijian Drua.
