Taranaki will go into the NPC playoffs unbeaten, claiming a 24-10 win over Southland in Inglewood on Sunday afternoon.
Despite missing several key players including captain Teihorangi Walden, the Bulls overcame a dreary start and an early 10-point deficit to take the win - taking confidence from a performance in which they were far from their best ahead of the rematch in the playoffs next weekend.
"To be fair, that was pretty average," stand-in Taranaki captain Stephen Perofeta told Sky Sport after the game.
"We talked about bringing our A-game and that was far from it. So, heading into the semis, I think it's a good lesson learned that you can't turn up making heaps of errors and discipline hurting us a lot, because it will cost us in the end."
Things didn't get off to a great start for the hosts. A miscommunication between first-five Jayson Potroz and No8 Pita Gus Sowakula underneath a high ball gave Southland possession early deep in Taranaki territory.