A tense 3-2 win over pace-setter Auckland catapulted Capital to the top of the men's points table and, on paper at least, the easier task in tomorrow's semifinals of the National Hockey League at Lloyd Elsmore Park.
Capital went into the last of the round-robin games a point back from Auckland but, with goals from Jason Hilton, Matt L'Huillier and Jacob Smith, snatched the points after leading 2-1 at halftime.
Capital will now face Southern in the semifinals, while Auckland will play North Harbour in the clash between the second and third-placed teams.
North Harbour, after picking up only one of eight possible points in its first two outings, won yesterday's must-win game over Canterbury 4-0 to seal its place, and Southern, which beat Northland 2-1, got through on countback, having beaten Midlands in pool play.
North Harbour will take the psychological advantage into the game against Auckland after beating it 3-0 earlier in the tournament.
Central, which shared the spoils with Auckland a year ago when the final was cut short by bad weather, was well off the pace after losing to Midlands 4-2 in bitter conditions yesterday.
Despite having the same points and a better goal difference, Midlands dipped out to Southern in the final analysis.
Southern won its round-four clash 3-2.
Southern now faces Capital buoyed by its round-robin result when it won 4-3 in Dunedin.
Canterbury women continued their winning way with a 4-0 win over Capital to end the pool phase as the only team with a perfect seven-win record.
Led by two goals from Hannah Marshall, Canterbury scored two in each half, to confirm its favourites tag. It will face North Harbour in the second semifinal.
Needing to win its last game against Auckland to be assured of a top-four finish, Harbour got home 1-0 with Petrea Webster's second-half goal the difference.
Midlands booked their place in the top four with a 4-0 win over luckless Northland.
