Leeds Rhinos and Salford Red Devils moved within 80 minutes of the Betfred Super League Grand Final with victories over Catalans Dragons and Huddersfield Giants respectively in the first round of the play-offs.
On an emotional weekend in which the sport paid its respects following the death of the Queen, the Rhinos reached the semi-finals with a 20-10 victory in Perpignan on Friday.
Hull-bound centre Liam Sutcliffe scored a hat-trick of tries as the West Yorkshire side, bidding to win the competition from fifth in the regular-season table for a third time, dominated a stormy encounter.
Despite being without top points-scorer Rhyse Martin through suspension and up against a full-strength Dragons side – who struck first with two Sam Tomkins penalties – Leeds took control with Sutcliffe's first two touchdowns.
Dean Whare kept last season's beaten Grand Finalists in contention but the sin-binning of Michael McIlorum proved costly as Sutcliffe completed his treble.
The Dragons rallied again late on but they ran out of steam after Gil Dudson was sent off following a clash with Aidan Sezer and Mitchell Pearce was also sent to the sin bin.
Zak Hardaker added a penalty, giving him four goals for the night, to keep the Rhinos out of reach.
They were joined in the last four on Saturday by Salford, who claimed an impressive 28-0 win over their former coach Ian Watson's side at the John Smith's Stadium.
The Red Devils finished sixth in the table, seven points behind the third-placed Giants, but they raced into a 16-0 lead inside the opening quarter.
The first two tries came in quick succession as Joe Burgess and Kallum Watkins crossed. Marc Sneyd converted both and added two penalties to bolster the lead.
Such was Salford's control, they survived a spell with Ryan Brierley in the sin-bin before the break unscathed.
Having returned to the action, Brierley added the visitors' third try early in the second half.
After that, Paul Rowley's side were untroubled as they eased to the final hooter. Hooker Andy Ackers dummied his way through for a fine 50-metre solo score 90 seconds from time and Sneyd finished with six goals, the last with his weaker right foot.
The only downside for Salford, who will now face reigning champions St Helens next week, was the loss of influential stand-off Brodie Croft with a head injury. He failed a head injury assessment after leaving the field and the former Brisbane and Melbourne playmaker, who is on the three-man shortlist for the Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel award, will also have to sit out the semi-final.
The Red Devils will travel to the Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday. Leeds will take on Wigan in the first semi-final at the DW Stadium on Friday.
Results
Friday
- Catalans Dragons 10 Leeds Rhinos 20
Saturday
- Huddersfield Giants 0 Salford Red Devils 28
