The Crusaders have kept alive their stunning Super Rugby Pacific finals record, the defending champions steamrolling the Blues in their qualifying final, with fullback Johnny McNicholl bagging a hat-trick.
The Crusaders have never lost a final at home, banking their 33rd win in Christchurch with a 52-31 scoreline in Saturday's clash to secure a semi-final berth.
They joined the table-topping Hurricanes, who thrashed the Brumbies 66-12 in Friday's qualifying final in Wellington.
Playing at their One New Zealand Stadium, the Crusaders' cause got a huge first-half boost with the Blues losing Malachi Wrampling-Alec to a red card.
Australian referee Nic Berry gave the No.8 a yellow card for making "shoulder to head contact" on Crusaders flanker Leicester Fainga'anuku.
That was quickly upgraded to a permanent send-off, with the TMO telling Berry there was a "high degree of danger with no mitigation".
