The Blues have regained their hold atop the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman table with a 31-24 victory over Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
But they will regret not taking full advantage of a team forced into a late backline reshuffle, as experienced kingpins James O'Connor and Bryce Hegarty dropped out with injury.
In their place, Reds coach Brad Thorn promoted Hamish Stewart into fullback and then first-five, with teenage debutant Mac Grealy finally taking the No.15 jersey.
The Blues led 31-14 with 10 minutes remaining, still chasing a bonus point that may become vital next weekend, when finalists are decided.
But over those closing minutes, they conceded 10 unanswered points that brought their rivals within a converted try in the final seconds and a potential crushing blow to their title hopes.
Reds winger Filipo Daugunu threatened to singlehandedly derail their aspirations with a try and well-taken penalty over the dying stages, but the Blues held on for victory over the only Aussie team to record a win in the new format.
Earlier, the Crusaders had moved to the top of the table with their victory over Western Force, but the Blues usurped them in the late game and a bonus-point result over the West Australians next week will see them secure a spot in the final.
They made the early running, with captain Patrick Tuipulotu and Rieko Ioane running strongly runs and looking dangerous. They grabbed their reward with the first points of the evening, through an Otere Black penalty goal.
The lead didn't last long, as the Reds grabbed the game's first try, when No.8 Harry Wilson ran onto a brilliant Lukhan Salakaia-Loto short ball to gallop over.
Four minutes later, the momentum swung back the Blues' way, when Reds hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa was yellow-carded for bringing down an attacking maul.
The Blues made the extra man count with two tries in the 10-minute period - the first through Dalton Papalii and then to winger Mark Telea - to open up a 17-7 lead at the break.
The visitors couldn't have hoped for a better start to the second half, when Tuipulotu extended the lead three minutes after the restart, after Telea was manhandled and held up over the line.
Paenga-Amosa narrowed the deficit, before halfback Finlay Christie put his side in prime position for maximum points with a cheeky close-range try.
But Daugunu's late burst undermined the Blues dominance and left the door ajar for their rivals in the run to the final.
Blues 31 (Papalii, Tuipulotu, Christie & Telea tries; Black 4 conversions & penalty) Queensland Reds 24 (Wilson, Daugunu & Paenga-Amosa tries; Henry 3 conversions; Daugunu penalty)
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