The Queensland Reds won a classic 94-point semi-final shootout against Fijian Drua to give themselves a chance of a first Super Rugby Women's title against minor premiers the Waratahs.
The Reds and Drua combined for 14 tries in a frenetic clash at Brisbane's Ballymore on Sunday, with the home team crossing eight times to the visitors' six in a 54-40 victory.
The Reds led 42-5 at halftime after scoring 35 unanswered points, but Drua closed to within seven with just under 10 minutes left.
In the second semi on Sunday, the NSW Waratahs posted an identical score to the Reds, crushing Western Force 54-17 at Sydney's Leichhardt Oval.
Wallaroos centre Georgina Friedrichs crossed for three second-half tries, with NSW piling on 35 straight points after the break.
The Waratahs and Reds meet in Saturday's grand final at North Sydney Oval, with NSW having beaten Queensland 36-14 in their round-robin clash at Ballymore last month.
NSW have never lost to an Australian side, and have won five of the past seven titles.
Queensland have lost all four of their grand finals, three to the Waratahs and one to Drua.
It was the first year in the four seasons Drua have contested the competition that they have missed the decider, but they rebounded superbly in the second half in Brisbane after conceding six tries in the first.
The Reds' forward strength and slick backline dominated the first half, with the home team piling on six tries to one, with sevens star Charlotte Caslick looking good at fullback.
Drua gained ascendancy in the second half, scoring five tries to two.
Skipper and lock Karalaini Naisewa crossed twice and centre and vice-captain Vitalina Naikore toed the ball ahead twice, then regathered for a memorable five-pointer.
Outstanding Reds prop Eva Karpani showed great strength to score her second try, but Drua hit back and the Reds needed a late five-pointer from American Charli Jacoby to seal the victory and a grand final spot after finishing last in 2024.
"Last year was a really disappointing year for us, so to have that turnaround and be able to lock in and go to the (grand) final we're pretty excited," Reds captain and winger Ivania Wong told Stan Sport.
In Sydney, NSW scored the first three tries and surged to a 19-0 lead, with winger Maya Stewart adding two tries to the first from captain and No.8 Piper Duck.
The Force got back to within seven points by the break after tries to centres Trileen Pomare and Cecilia Smith.
The second half was one-sided, with Friedrichs adding to her hat-trick by assisting a try for returning teenage star Caitlyn Halse, and the Force had two players sin-binned, one after a penalty try.
"During the week we wanted to focus on dominating our collisions, whether that be attack or defence, so I really took that into my personal game and I think that helped me," Friedrichs told Stan Sport.
Tahs backrower Leilani Nathan was stretchered from the field after a knee appeared to buckle.
