The Crusaders booked a Super Rugby meeting with the Reds after thrashing the Stormers 29-10 at a full capacity Newlands on Saturday.
All the damage was done in the first-half with the Crusaders registering a 23-10 lead at the break and converted two more second-half penalties through the boot of flyhalf Dan Carter.
The Stormers did not add anything in the final 40 minutes.
The hosts though had started off the encounter solidly despite being hampered by the late withdrawal of scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenhage, and were impressive in the early exchanges.
They opened the scoring through flyhalf Peter Grant after he was stopped inches from the try line.
Crusaders, who are seven-time champions, worked their way back and levelled the scores through a Carter penalty shortly before suffered an injury loss with scrumhalf Andy Ellis leaving the field with a knee injury.
Just as the Stormers adapted without their first choice halfback, the Crusaders lifted their game after Ellis’ departure and were rewarded with a brilliant try from winger Sean Maitland.
Maitland intercepted a poorly timed pass by eighthman Nick Koster for the five points.
Carter then ensured his side opened up a 10 point lead over the home side when he slotted two more penalties.
And if the New Zealanders' dominance at scrum time – with prop Wyatt Crockett named Man of the Match – didn't stun the Cape outfit, a trademark Sonnybill Williams offload to his centre partner Robbie Freuan then surely did.
The pass from Williams allowed Freuan to cross untouched as the margin increased from a reachable 10 to a comfortable 17-point advantage.
With less than five minutes left in the first half, Stormers wing Bryan Habana caught the Crusaders off guard to score from a quickly tapped penalty, reducing his side’s deficit to 10 points at the interval.
This turned to be the home side's only try of the evening with Carter getting a successful shot at goal soon after the re-start.
The Stormers responded by keeping ball-in-hand, but could again not find a break as a promising attacking move ended with centre Jaque Fourie being pushed into touch a metre short of the try line by a brilliant Crusaders cover defence.
As the pressure started building, so did the number of unforced errors the Stormers made in the tackling area.
Carter’s fifth penalty of the night would, however, come from an infringement in the scrum.
He added another in the last quarter of the match to assure the men from Christchurch their win and to send a significant number of Stormers supporters out of their seats before the full-time whistle.
SCORERS
Stormers 10 (10) Penalty: Peter Grant (1). Try: Bryan Habana Conversion: Grant (1)
Crusaders 29 (23) Tries: Sean Maitland, Robbie Fruean. Penalties: Dan Carter (5) Conversions: Carter (2). – Sapa