Bay of Plenty have the chance to win just their second National Provincial Championship (NPC) title, and first since 1976, but Wellington will have something to say about that.
The Steamers face the Lions at Wellington's Sky Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3.05pm) in what could be a huge final for both sides.
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In their semifinal, Bay of Plenty beat Canterbury 32-20 in Tauranga, with flanker Joe Johnston going over in the corner from a rolling maul early in the match.
Canterbury then had hooker Brodie McAlister score the visitors' first try from mauling play. Another penalty goal to first five-eighths Isaac Hutchinson saw Canterbury to the break leading 13-8.
Bay of Plenty scored two minutes into the second spell under penalty advantage with second five Willis Haloholo charging over in the corner to level the scores.
In the 56th minute, Bay of Plenty stole a crucial march when replacement fullback Lucas Cashmore raced into the backline to create an overlap that saw wing Leroy Carter show his scoring expertise to touch down in the corner.
Kaleb Trask landed a sideline conversion to put the home team out to a 22-13 lead, and added a penalty goal as well.
With 10 minutes on the clock Cashmore, ran a kick back with the support of replacement midfielder Fehi Fineanganofo. He split the defence, and while tackled, he had loose forward Semisi Paea backing up with a full head of steam that carried him 22m to score.
The Cantabs did have some consolation with the last try of the game after halfback Willi Heinz took a tap penalty to put replacement back Jone Rova in for the try.
Meanwhile in the Capital, penalty goals were exchanged early on between Wellington and Waikato.
However, a powerful charge by hooker Leni Apisai, Wellington scored first, after second-five Riley Higgins broke through in midfield and off-loaded to halfback Kyle Preston to score under the posts in the 18th minute.
But Waikato wing, usually a loose forward Ollie Mathis built something from nothing when, from his half, he received the ball, kicked ahead, got a favourable bounce to kick again, recovered, and dived over for Waikato's opening try.
Just before halftime, Higgins was yellow-carded for being offside and impeding the ball, which resulted in a penalty try. The home team replied as prop Siale Lauaki thundered his way over to give the halftime score of 17-15 to the visitors.
Wellington started the second spell as first five Callum Harkin put a weighted kick ahead and got the bounce to link outside to fullback Tjay Clarke who had Preston at hand to take the ball and score his second.
Home captain Kirifi du'Plessis showed some outstanding leadership in defence, josting ball loose in tackles and unrelenting in his turnover plays.
In the last 20 and replacement hooker Penieli Poasa was on the end of a Wellington lineout drive and secured a try that gave his side a welcome scoring buffer.
Waikato scored with five minutes left, off the back of a long pass from Aaron Cruden to second five-five Quinn Tupaea out wide. He linked inside, and it was replacement prop Mason Tupaea who scored but the home team was able to close down the game from there.
Bay of Plenty 32 (Joe Johnston, Willis Haloholo, Leroy Carter, Semisi Paea tries; Kaleb Trask 3 con, 2 pen) Canterbury 20 (Brodie McAlister, Jone Rova tries; Isaac Hutchinson con, pen, Chay Fihaki con). HT: 8-13
Wellington 29 (Kyle Preston 2, Siale Lauaki, Penieli Poasa tries; Callum Harkin 3 con, pen) Waikato 24 (Ollie Mathis, Mason Tupaea tries; Penalty try; Aaron Cruden 2 con, pen). HT: 15-17