The Waratahs have picked themselves up from disappointing tour of South Africa to kill the finals' aspirations of the Highlanders, with a scrappy 33-7 bonus-point victory at the SFS on Saturday night.
The result catapults the Waratahs back into the all-important top-six with one round left, while the demoralised Highlanders must be wondering what went wrong after they started the competition with such a bang.
The Highlanders enjoyed 60 percent of possession and the majority of field position in the first half, but finished the opening stanza 19-7 down against a Kurtley Beale-inspired Waratahs' side that made the most of their limited opportunities.
Driving rain and wind were the main features of a scrappy second half that produced few highlights until the final five minutes when the Waratahs ran away with the game courtesy of two quick tries.
Beale was brilliant as per usual, with his two scintillating runs in the first half leading to tries for his side, while hard-running centre Tom Carter sealed man-of-the-match honours with a hat-trick of four-pointers.
Skipper Phil Waugh and No. 8 Wycliff Palu made successful returns from injury for the Waratahs, although the Wallaby pair didn't see much of the second stanza, with coach Chris Hickey preferring to ease them back into the frame ahead of next weekend's crucial last-round clash with the Brumbies at ANZ Stadium.
Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau may struggle to make that match after he was visibly affected by a knee injury for the majority of this game.
The Waratahs looked good early and were rewarded with the opening try in ninth minute when Beale danced his way through the defence from a kick-return then produced a pin-point grubber in the direction of the left corner for Carter to claim the first of his three tries for the match.
Beale missed his sideline conversion attempt leaving the home side in front 5-0.
The Beale-orchestrated razzle dazzle continued six minutes later when the Melbourne-bound star raced 50m downfield from a turnover to set up a try for hard-working No. 6 Dave Dennis after some fine support play from Polota-Nau.
Beale converted and the Tahs had a handy 12-point break.
But despite the 12-0 scoreline, the desperate and carefree Highlanders were dominating possession and they started to put some impressive phases together, culminating in a close-range effort from hooker Jason Rutledge in the 28th minute.
Veteran fly-half Tony Brown added the extras and the visitors were back in the race at 12-7 down.
The Tahs suffered a huge blow six minutes before the break, losing centre Berrick Barnes with a back injury.
But with Barnes off the field, it was his centre partner Carter who stepped up to the mark for his second try of the night two minutes before the break, powering through the defence from close-range off a deft Daniel Halangahu inside pass.
Beale's simple conversion sent the home side into the sheds 19-7 in front.
The Highlanders have never come back from a half-time deficit of 12-points or more in their Super Rugby history and the constant rain in the second half certainly didn't help their already flagging fortunes in this match.
It was an error-riddled second half and the Waratahs were guilty of some frustrating mistakes, but their defence was as strong as ever, repelling a Highlanders' outfit that never gave up.
Carter sealed his man-of-the-match award, and a bonus point for his side, with a 75th minute try, before replacement Josh Holmes capped the win with a four-pointer on full-time after running onto a perfectly-weighted Beale kick.
Waratahs: 33
Tries: Carter 3, Dennis, Holmes
Conv: Beale 4/5
Highlanders: 7
Tries: Rutledge
Conversions: Brown 1/1