Warrington Wolves took a huge step towards ending their 63-year wait for the title as they reached the Super League Grand Final with an 18-13 win at St Helens.
Saints, armed with a blistering attack, won the league leader's shield but failed to recreate their regular-season form here, marshalled expertly by the Wire in a tense first half.
And even when the hosts did then break through shortly after the restart, Warrington stayed with their rivals and Tom Lineham's brilliant pair of tries proved the difference in a thrilling final 40 minutes.
Having kept the scoreline to 3-2 approaching the break, it looked as though the Wire might have missed their big chance when Josh Charnley knocked on from a Toby King flick in the right corner.
Warrington were dealt a further blow at the start of the second half, too, with Luke Douglas going after a loose ball to touch down the opener for the Saints.
But the response from the visitors was swift as Jack Hughes slid over on the right and, although Danny Richardson continued to plunder home points with his boot, Lineham's try and the subsequent conversion nudged the Wire one up.
St Helens pressed forward, though, and Richardson continued to deliver, with a quickfire drop-goal double seemingly turning the game back in his side's favour.
Saints looked to be in complete control, but Lineham then took the game into his own hands six minutes from time as a sensational solo run down the left decisively carved through the red and white shirts and sent the travelling fans into raptures.
