Warrington guaranteed a home play-off spot after withstanding a late Hull FC fightback to claim a 16-14 Betfred Super League win at the MKM Stadium.
Sam Burgess's side looked to be cruising to a sixth straight win after back-to-back tries from Leon Hayes and Matty Ashton put them well in control towards the end of the first half.
The hosts had more than matched their opponents in the opening stages and looked set to reach the interval level after Warrington captain George Williams and Hull's Aidan Sezer traded early penalties, but hesitation under two high kicks cost the home side dear and Warrington went in 10 points clear.
When Josh Thewlis crossed for Warrington's third try 10 minutes into the second half it looked all over, but the Black and Whites, playing their last home game of the season, belatedly stirred.
Quick converted tries from Ethan O'Neill and Tom Briscoe, who is preparing to bring his 17-year career to a close, thrust them back into contention and left the visitors clinging on to seal a top-four slot.
Victory may also have come at a price for Warrington after Aaron Lindop failed a head injury assessment while Burgess lost both Luke Thomas and Joe Philbin to apparent leg injuries.
"We controlled the game for large parts, and I was a bit disappointed that they were able to score two tries towards the end," said Burgess, speaking to Your Site.
"I'm proud of them, they're a joy to coach. We're getting tough which is an important part of our journey - to be able to manage these periods and just get on with the job."
Hull FC head coach Andy Last praised his side's fighting spirit and paid tribute to Briscoe, who shared some emotional moments with the supporters after the final whistle.
"I'm disappointed with the results but I'm really proud of the performance," he said. "We were up against a really good team who are in good form, and we went toe to toe with them for 80 minutes.
"Tom Briscoe, a remarkable performance for him today, and great that he was able to score that try in front of the home fans."
Wakefield came on strong in the second half to beat struggling York 28-12 and guarantee a place in the post-season play-offs.
Daryl Powell's side had to survive a scare as the visitors briefly hauled level early in the second period before tries from Jayden Myers, Max Jowitt and Lachlan Walmsley got the job done.
Corey Hall's converted try put the hosts in front early and after former Wakefield player Ben Jones-Bishop reduced the deficit, Walmsley grabbed his first to carve out a six-point half-time lead.
Mark Applegarth's side responded well and pulled level through a brilliant run by Xavier Va'a and Jon Bennison's subsequent conversion, but York's good work was undone when Myers barged over from Mike McMeeken's short pass.
Bennison's ball was then intercepted, allowing Jowitt to effectively seal the contest before Walmsley put the gloss on the win with his second late on.
The result was a welcome boost for Wakefield after three straight defeats and moves them two points clear in fourth place and six above seventh-placed St Helens, with their hopes of securing a home play-off tie likely to hinge on next week's visit of Warrington.
Bradford Bulls' survival hopes are hanging by a thread after a 28-18 defeat in Toulouse left them two points from safety with two rounds remaining.
With 17 first-teamers unavailable, four of them hurt in the loss at Leigh eight days earlier and Loghan Lewis suspended, the 17 fit men were the 17 who travelled for head coach Kurt Haggerty – among them academy youngster Harvey Ward for a senior bow off the bench, though there was some relief in comebacks for vice-captain Ryan Sutton and wing Connor Wynne.
For 17 minutes, it threatened to unravel entirely. Cesar Rouge's boot kept turning the makeshift visitors around and by the time Paul Ulberg had barged his way over and Luke Polselli had finished off a three-on-one, sprung when Romeo Tropis slipped clear of Luke Hooley, the hosts led 10-0.
The response said everything about Bradford's night. Riley Dean carved Toulouse open to create a score for Chris Atkin, only for Ethan Quai-Ward to release John Toleafoa for a first try of the campaign that stretched the interval gap back to 10 at 16-6.
Dean was repelled twice on the line as Bradford pushed bravely while Sutton and Eliot Peposhi combined to keep Toleafoa out at the other end and once Maxime Stefani spilled possession, Andy Ackers sold a dummy and stepped his way over to make it a four-point game.
Toulouse settled it inside the last seven minutes, Mathieu Jussaume claiming his 16th try of the year before Tropis applied the finish to a flowing move, securing a ninth win of the season for the ninth-placed side and payback for their March loss in Yorkshire.
Alfie Leake at least gave the travelling contingent a final-whistle lift, the academy graduate grabbing a maiden senior try with a final act of defiance.
The equation for Bradford is now brutally simple they must beat 10th-placed Castleford at home on Thursday or the trip to second-bottom York Knights a week later could see the whole season on the line.
Toulouse close out against Hull FC on Friday and then at Warrington.
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