The Waratahs have qualified for the Super Rugby finals with a thumping 41-7 bonus-point victory over the Brumbies at ANZ Stadium.
Needing to win the match to keep their season alive, the Waratahs crossed in the third minute to take a 10-0 half-time lead before adding four tries in the second stanza to equal their highest-winning margin against the Brumbies in front of 28,276 delighted fans.
Kurtley Beale, who kicked two penalties and five conversions from eight attempts, continued his rich vein of form with another dominant display, while giant lock Sitaleki Timani left a trail of destruction to claim man-of-the-match honours.
Timani, who was let go by the Brumbies at the end of last season, ended prop Ben Alexander's night in the sixth minute with a crunching tackle and scored a crucial try in the 47th minute in a powerhouse performance.
The win was soured by injuries to hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, Daniel Halangahu and Al Baxter who were all forced from the field in the second half.
NSW must await the outcome of the Stormers-Cheetahs and Sharks-Bulls clashes on Sunday morning (AEST) to find out who they will meet in the first round of the playoffs.
If the Sharks defeat the Bulls without a bonus-point the Waratahs will finish in fifth spot, while they will finish in sixth if the Bulls prevail.
Following a minute's silence for former NSW and Australian player and coach David Brockhoff, who passed away on Friday at age 83, the Waratahs opened the scoring on three minutes with a scintillating long-range try to Lachie Turner.
Luke Burgess stole the ball at the ruck and fired to Turner at first receiver who sent the ball through the hands to Beale down the left flank.
Beale looked certain to be bundled into touch but produced brilliant footwork to shrug off Andrew Smith and find Turner on his inside who sprinted 50m for the first try and a 7-0 lead.
NSW continued to let the ball sing at the re-start but they bombed a further two tries by the 11th minute after Dave Dennis and Pat O'Connor both dropped the ball with the line wide open.
Beale's 24th-minute penalty goal extended the Waratahs' advantage to 10-0, but the Brumbies looked the more threatening side for the remainder of the half.
But their late dominance went unrewarded as Julian Salvi and Ita Vaea both produced handling errors when the Waratahs were stretched beyond their limit to send the hosts into the break with their 10-point buffer intact.
The Waratahs had doubled their lead by the 47th minute on the back Beale's second penalty goal and a converted try to Timani, who crashed over from short range after an extended build-up from the hosts.
Beale slotted the extras for a commanding 20-0 advantage before replacement flanker Chris Alcock beat six Brumbies defenders to score a brilliant solo try on the hour to put the contest beyond doubt.
Soseni Anesi's 75m runaway effort added further insult for the visitors to the delight of the partisan home crowd before Franky Fainifo scored a consolation try for the Brumbies in the 80th minute.
Beale slotted the extras for a commanding 20-0 advantage before replacement flanker Chris Alcock beat six Brumbies defenders to score a brilliant solo try on the hour to put the contest beyond doubt.
Waratahs: 41
Tries: Turner, Timani, Alcock, Anesi, Dennis,
Pens: Beale 2/3,
Conv: Beale 5/5
Brumbies: 7
Tries: Fainifo,
Conv: Giteau 1/1
Crowd: 28,276