The Queensland Reds have endured a nervous wait before hanging on to a Super Rugby Pacific finals spot, despite their meek 41-17 last-round loss to Fijian Drua in Suva.
The Drua swallowed the Reds up in a drubbing that completed the competition's feelgood story with a finals berth of their own in just the Pacific Islanders' second season.
But Queensland's second-half capitulation left the Reds sweating on an under-strength Chiefs side beating the Western Force in Perth to seal a place in the playoffs.
The table-topping Chiefs delivered with a 43-19 victory on Saturday night at HBF Park where the Force had been unbeaten this campaign.
The Force's loss means the Chiefs will host the Reds next Saturday instead of Simon Cron's WA outfit, who fell a game short of an elusive maiden finals appearance.
The Reds would have played the Crusaders in Christchurch had they not allowed the Drua to dominate the second half - after scores were locked 17-17 at the break - to leapfrog Queensland into seventh position and book a date with the reigning champions.
In the other two quarter-finals, the sixth-placed NSW Waratahs will travel to Auckland to face the third-placed Blues on Friday and the fourth-placed Brumbies are home to the Hurricanes on Saturday.
While the Drua's spirited win lifted Mick Byrne's men above four teams, the wheels fell off the Reds on a wet afternoon at HFC Bank Stadium.
"Really disappointed," coach Brad Thorn said after what could be his final game in charge of the side.
"The Fijians did really well. Played really good footy, brought pressure and we didn't handle that.
"They were the better side, they deserved the win and it hurts, but a significant moment for Fijian rugby.
"Their players played tonight with passion. The game was there for both sides, they took it up a gear and we didn't handle that pressure in many areas.
"That's what you get."
The Drua were 11th in a two-win debut 2022 season that had them based in northern NSW and playing home games in various Queensland venues.
But they've embraced their return home this year, winning five of their six home games with a combination of Fijian flair and some savvy Byrne upgrades.
"They've become dedicated to become professionals," the coach said.
"All the little things that pros take for granted, but these boys had never done it before.
"They deserve everything they've got tonight ... we're taking it all in."
A brilliant clearing kick and better chase from player-of-the-match Selestino Ravutaumada set the tone, his charge down of a laboured Filipo Daugunu kick creating his own third-minute try.
The Reds responded with set-piece tries to Ryan Smith and Fraser McReight but the Drua scored twice more in the half, Vilive Miramira benefiting from a cheeky Iosefo Masi chip that evaded a diving Tate McDermott.
The Reds were never in the fight after the break, McReight sin-binned after repeat infringements and the Drua slowly turning the screws.
The Reds' usually reliable line-out failed them, a throw on their own tryline over the back falling for hooker Tevita Ikanivere who scored the simplest of tries.
A runaway Joseva Tamani try only heightened the frenzied home crowd with seven minutes to play, a potential Masi knee injury the only dampener on an historic night for Fijian rugby.
