Wests Tigers edged past a gallant Cronulla Sharks outfit 30-22 to secure a top-four spot and a much-anticipated finals' meeting with St George Illawarra next Friday night.
Tim Sheens' men began the final premiership round in fourth spot, but wins by the Dragons and Warriors saw them slip back to sixth spot on the ladder heading into this important clash.
It seemed Wests would cruise to an eighth-straight win after posting two tries in the opening 10 minutes.
But the Sharks were determined not to finish 2011 on a massive low, especially with inspirational skipper Paul Gallen celebrating his 200th NRL match and departing props Kade Snowden and Luke Douglas enjoying their final games in Cronulla colours.
The Sharks trailed 20-12 at the break and were definitely back in business just after the resumption when back-rower Jeremy Smith scored.
The Tigers had too much to play for though, with skipper Robbie Farah leading the way with a hat-trick of tries to help his side eventually get over the line and take fourth spot on the ladder.
It sets up a 4 v 5 Sydney blockbuster against the Dragons next Friday night to open the 2011 finals series.
The Tigers split the Sharks open in just the third minute thanks to one of their pet plays involving Farah and five-eighth Benji Marshall, whose crisp inside ball allowed full-back Tim Moltzen to race 50m before feeding winger Mitch Brown a pass for a fine try in the left corner.
Farah obviously liked what he saw down left side of the field, making a mockery of some hesitant Sharks' defence out of dummy-half to score the softest of tries seven minutes later.
Marshall missed with the wide-range conversion, leaving the hosts in front 8-0.
But the Sharks weren't to be outdone, with skipper Paul Gallen orchestrating an excellent decoy play down their left side to set up a try for winger John Williams, who also slotted the sideline conversion to put his side behind 8-6.
When Tigers half-back Robert Lui brushed off opposite Wade Graham to kick-start a 70m raid, resulting in a converted Moltzen try in 21st minute, the hosts regained their eight-point buffer at 14-6 in front.
Smith proved why he is considered one of better forwards in the game just before the half hour when he bumped off several defenders then cleverly grubbered ahead for rookie winger Stewart Mills to chase down a right-edge try.
But the home side struggled to capitalize on their good work, allowing Tigers winger Lote Tuqiri to stroll over for a try off a scrum after an untimely slip by Sharks full-back Nathan Stapleton opened up a yawning gap.
Marshall's easy conversion sent the Tigers into the sheds leading 20-12.
Two of the Sharks' best combined for the first try after the break, with Smith storming onto a dream Gallen pass to score under the sticks and make this a two-point game yet again.
Farah combined nicely with second-rower Gareth Ellis to burrow over for his second try on the hour, to give the Tigers a 26-18 lead following the Marshall conversion.
The game was far from over though, with the Tigers' ill-disciplined play allowing the Sharks to remain in the contest.
Williams' second try in the 72nd minute put the Sharks within range again, but Farah had the final say, completing his hat-trick out of dummy-half with a minute remaining.
Wests Tigers 30
Tries: Farah 3, Brown, Moltzen Tuqiri
Conversions: Marshall 3
Cronulla Sharks 22
Tries: Williams 2, Mills, Smith
Conversions: Williams 3