And the defending champions managed that.
They also managed to wreck the Chiefs’ hopes of hosting the final.
The South Islanders won the tense encounter 22-20 in Christchurch on Saturday.
That means the Blues will host the Super Rugby Aupiki final after they beat the Hurricanes Poua 41-29 in Levin earlier in the day.
Matatu captain Alana Bremner told Sky Sport she was thrilled to pull their game together over the last two weeks of the regular season.
"We’ve been building throughout the season, game by game. We’ve been better and better, and just really proud we won enough of those moments today to come out on the other side", Bremner said.
"I think it shows the character of a team.
"We knew the last two weeks there was no chance of making the final, but we just played for pride and the people that supported us — we just wanted to put a good performance out the last couple of weeks."
Manawa captain Kennedy Simon credited Matatu for their win and going out with a "bang".
But she was bitterly disappointed in Manawa’s defeat — their first consecutive losses in Super Rugby — and acknowledged they needed to be better in the final.
"Just got to take these learnings and get tight ... just make sure we turn up next week", Simon said.
"We’ve just got to make sure we’re doing those extras [at the lineout]. Finishing the lift at the top and securing the ball in the air ... it’s a huge part of the game, something that we’ve got to go away and really work on."
Matatu slipped some early tackles and hooker Georgia Ponsonby took an inside ball from Amy du Plessis to open the scoring in the fifth minute.
It was more like the type of rugby Matatu delivered last year. Ponsonby had made an offload earlier in the move and stayed in support to get a well-earned five-pointer under the posts.
Ruby Tui charged down the conversion, which was some effort.
Tui then stepped her way through a series of tackles to set up a try for Mia Anderson, but winger Winnie Palamo got Matatu back in front with a charge-down try.
Manawa levelled the scores through a try to openside Kennedy Simon, and it remained 12-12 at the break.
The Chiefs took back control of the game when fullback Renee Holmes scored early in the second half. She also knocked over a scrum penalty to extend the lead to 20-12.
But Matatu reserve forward Atlanta Lolohea tossed a ball over her shoulder that du Plessis gathered, and she crashed over to set up a tense finish with 15 minutes left.
Liv McGoverne scored the winning try with eight minutes on the clock. She collected a missed touch-finder, wound up from 35m out and palmed her way through the defensive line, and the goal-line opened up.
Matatu finished the campaign with two wins from six games and in third place.
It was not the result they would have hoped for. But they can take some solace from their final performance for 2024.
The Blues will carry momentum — as well as home advantage — into the final after their 41-29 win over the Poua.
The Blues scored seven tries, with winger Katelyn Vaha’akolo bagging a brace.
Super Rugby Aupiki
The scores
Matatū 22
Georgia Ponsonby, Winnie Palamo, Amy du Plessis, Liv McGoverne tries; Rosie Kelly con.
Chiefs Manawa 20
Mia Anderson, Kennedy Simon, Renee Holmes tries; Holmes pen, con.
Halftime: 1 2-12
