A brace of tries from centre Jaque Fourie added to 27 points from first five-eighths Peter Grant helped the Stormers take a massive step towards a home Super 14 semi-final with a crushing 42-14 victory over the Crusaders in Cape Town.
Despite scoring the opening try of the game through first five-eighths Dan Carter, the visitors were only momentarily in the game as the Newlands faithful were treated to a solid display of defence and attack.
Wing Sireli Naqelevuki added a second try to seal the win and by the time Colin Slade went over for a consolation the game had already been wrapped up.
There was even time for a second score for Fourie, which all meant that Allister Coetzee's men, who were level on points with their opponents before kick-off, moved four clear in second place with two rounds to play.
The Stormers were awarded a penalty after just 15 seconds when hooker Corey Flynn was penalised for obstruction straight from the kick-off allowing Grant to send over an early three points.
He then doubled the advantage four minutes later when flanker Richie McCaw failed to roll away, before making a costly error that shifted the momentum in favour of the visitors.
It came at the back where Grant's attempted clearance was charged down by opposite number Carter, who managed to gather calmly and then dot down for the opening score.
Carter easily converted as the host quickly lost control.
They then dominated the next 15 minutes of play without capitalising fully on their territorial advantage and were made to pay by Grant's accurate boot, this time slotting over from just inside his own half to help his side retake the lead.
But he and Carter then exchanged misses, before more poor discipline – lock Brad Thorn conceded his third penalty of the night - enabled Grant to stretch the lead to 12-7.
Just before the half-time break, flanker Kieran Read was yellow carded for continued ill discipline, but the Crusaders held on to trail by just five points.
That sin-binning proved costly after the restart, though, when a moment of magic from Fourie saw the lead opened up even further.
The South Africa centre collected the ball from Grant outside the 22 and weaved his way through six defenders, before touching down for his fifth try of the season.
Grant converted the try and then added two more penalties as the hosts took full charge.
Naqelevuki's try wrapped up the victory - Adriaan Fondse and Juan de Jongh combining to send the Fijian away.
After Grant converted, Slade went over for a consolation, followed by Fourie and Grant completing the scoring.
Stormers 42
Tries: Fourie 2, Naqelevuki
Con: Grant 3
Pen: Grant 7
Crusaders 14
Tries: Carter, Slade
Con: Carter 2
HT: 12-7