.jpg){kind=small}
Both could still make the top four, with the Hurricanes getting a home semi-final, but both could also miss out all together.
The match featured torrid defence by both sides.
With the clock winding down, the Hurricanes tried to snap victory via the drop goal route, but first five-eighth Willie Ripia missed with three attempts in final three minutes.
The match in front of a bumper crowd of 37,352 at Eden Park began slowly, but buil t to high intensity in the second half.
The Blues dominated the opening exchanges, which featured plenty of kicking for position, especially from the home side, who got on the scoreboard first via a Nick Evans penalty.
But the Hurricanes swung the contest around with two converted tries in a minute, winger Hosea Gear grabbing both.
The first came out of nothing after the Hurricanes' backline had fluffed a move.
Gear grabbed the loose ball and the Blues' defence offered little resistance as he ran in an arc towards the goalline.
He got his second when he charged down a clearing kick from Evans and the ball popped up nicely for him to score.
At 14-3 down the Blues struck back quickly, stringing together some phases before lock Anthony Boric powered over.
Both teams finished the first half with 14 men, the Blues having No 8 Nick Williams sinbinned for repeated offending at the breakdown, while Hurricane Tamati Ellison was yellow carded for obstruction.
The call on Ellison, a late inclusion at fullback to replace Cory Janes, for impeding winger David Smith during a kick-and-chase seemed a harsh one.
Two further Evans penalties to on e from opposition halfback Piri Weepu closed the margin to just a point at halftime.
Early in the second half, Gear went from scoring to saving a try, as he and centre Conrad Smith held up David Smith over the line.
From the same attack, flanker Jerome Kaino was forced out by prop Tim Fairbrother and Weepu before he could get the ball down.
Next, it was the turn of hooker Keven Mealamu to be held up as the Hurricanes produced some heroic defence.
The Blues finally hit the front with 20 minutes to when Evans landed another penalty for a high tackle.
The Hurricanes almost went back ahead shortly after when Ripia snatched an intercept and tore downfield with second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu in support.
The ball went to Nonu, who was dragged down from behind by first five-eighth Isa Nacewa just short of the line.
The Hurricanes then spent a sustained period in the Blues' territory, but could not sneak ahead.
Blues captain Troy Flavell said the team had shown character over the last few weeks to score the wins they needed to stay in playoffs contention.
"Probably mid-season, we were looking down in the dumps but we fought our way back into the competition and the next 48 hours will probably determine our future for the semis."
The team had put away the airy-fairy stuff to grind out wins in their last three matches.
Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo said the Blues had fought back under pressure and won the match by playing on the right side of the field.
The result leaves only competition leaders the Crusaders guaranteed a play-off spot.
Attention now turns to the Waratahs' match against the Reds in Brisbane tomorrow night.
The three other remaining playoff contenders -- the Stormers, the Sharks and the Chiefs -- are all in action in South Africa on Sunday morning (NZ time).
The Stormers visit the bottom-placed Lions, while the Sharks and Chiefs face off in Durban.
Blues (16) 19
Try: Boric
Con: Evans
Pens: Evans 4.
Hurricanes (17) 17
Tries: Gear 2
Cons: Weepu 2
Pen: Weepu.
Blues: Nick Evans, David Smith, Anthony Tuitavake, Benson Stanley, Rudi Wulf, Isa Nacewa, Taniela Moa, Nick Williams, Daniel Braid, Jerome Kaino, Troy Flavell (capt), Anthony Boric, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: Nick White, Bronson Murray, Kurtis Haiu, Justin Collins, Danny Lee, Isaia Toeava, Ben Atiga.
Hurricanes: Cory Jane, Hosea Gear, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford, Willie Ripia, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo (capt), Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Jason Easton, Jeremy Thrush, Tim Fairbrother, Andrew Hore, John Schwalger. Reserves: Hikawera Elliot, Jacob Ellison, Craig Clarke, Scott Waldrom, Alby Mathewson, Jimmy Gopperth, Tamati Ellison.
