Adam Lucius at ANZ Stadium
Penrith captain Petero Civoniceva was sensationally sent off as the Panthers snatched a remarkable 24-18 victory over Canterbury with a try after the fulltime siren.
Centre Michael Jennings streaked away for the match-winning try after Bulldogs veteran Brett Kimmorley, playing his final home game in the NRL, had a 30m field goal attempt charged down six seconds from the end.
Kimmorley looked around in disbelief as Luke Lewis scooped up the Travis Burns chargedown before offloading for the speedy Jennings to complete the 60m journey to the line.
The win books the Panthers, who trailed 16-0 after as many minutes, a home final in the first week of the play-offs.
It was a cruel ending to the game for Canterbury stalwart Luke Patten and the long-serving Kimmorley, both of whom were saying farewell to home fans.
Penrith will now sweat on the immediate future of Civoniceva, who collects the dubious honour of becoming the first players sent off in 2010
The big front-rower clocked Bulldogs forward Gary Warburton with a swinging arm to the head in the 70th minute, referee Steve Lyon pointing to the sheds after taking advice from the video referee.
Lyon told the veteran prop: "It was a swinging arm. You hit him high. You're off."
Penrith also have concerns over influential half-back Luke Walsh and power forward Frank Pritchard after both limped out of the game in the second half.
A largely uneventful game came to life in the final 20 minutes – the Panthers fighting back from a 16-point deficit to nudge in front 18-16 after 65 minutes.
Bryson Goodwin levelled things up with a penalty goal four minutes later.
Civoniceva was dismissed before the visitors missed with field goal attempts in the 72nd minute (Burns) and 75th (Brad Tighe).
Jennings try sealed what was probably an undeserved but invaluable victory.
Fittingly, it was Patten and Kimmorley featuring heavily as the Bulldogs stunned a lethargic Penrith early.
Patten delivered a pass for winger Steve Turner to pirouette like a dog chasing its tail before zooming through four lazy defenders to score a soft try.
Goodwin landed the sideline conversion for a 6-0 lead.
Five minutes later it was Kimmorley stepping up to centre stage.
His double cut-out pass found a rampaging Jamal Idris, the dreadlocked backrower cruising past three flat-footed defenders to score his 10th try of the campaign.
Completing a remarkable start by Canterbury's veterans, skipper Andrew Ryan got in on the act on 14 minutes.
He took a lovely ball from Ben Roberts and easily pushed away from Walsh for another easy four-pointer.
After a quarter of an hour the Panthers were behind 16-0.
But Canterbury could keep up the intensity for only so long as the visitors gradually worked their way back into the contest.
It took until the 39th minute before Penrith had anything tangible to show for their effort, but it was well worth the wait,
Fullback Michael Gordon sliced through two defenders and flicked a sublime pass out the back door for the unmarked Sandor Earl to scoot over.
Gordon iced his work with a conversion from out wide and suddenly the Panthers started believing there was a way back.
That belief grew on the hour mark when Tighe snatched a spilt bomb to place the ball down and narrow the gap to six points.
Gordon added the extras to make it 16-12.
The kick has been a constant source of points for the Panthers this