The Brumbies are back in a Super Rugby title winning sort of way. Brilliant attacking play, crowds roaring for rolling maul tries and fireworks on and off the field.

The Brumbies moved within one win of a grand final berth when they demolished the Durban Sharks on Saturday night, scoring three first-half tries to set up a 38-13 triumph.

They will fly to Argentina on Sunday morning for a semi-final clash against the Jaguares at 9am on Saturday next week, with the winner to advance to the championship match.

"You've got to embrace it. Finals footy is tough ... travel is part of Super Rugby. It's not new to us, it won't scare us," said Brumbies coach Dan McKellar.

"I thought the first half was outstanding [against the Sharks]. Our first 40 minutes was right up there with what we've produced this year. We're defending well ... so very pleased."

The second biggest crowd of the season stayed around after the siren in subzero temperatures to farewell Christian Lealiifano, David Pocock, Rory Arnold, Henry Speight and Sam Carter among others.

Hooker Josh Mann-Rea has also announced his retirement as a 38-year-old.

But with the farewells out of the way, the Brumbies will embrace the next two weeks of travel as they chase a championship goal.

They are riding high on confidence after winning the past seven games in a row to emerge as title contenders.

If the Wellington Hurricanes beat the Canterbury Crusaders in the other semi-final, and the Brumbies win, the Brumbies will host the Super Rugby grand final for the first time since 2004.

The only potential dampener could be a hamstring strain to Pete Samu, which threatens to rule the two-time Super Rugby champion out of the semi-final.

"I'm really proud. I thought the Sharks threw a lot at us at various times, the way the boys dug deep was special to see. We'll remember that for a long time," Lealiifano said.

"It's an exciting time of year and we'll enjoy that. The forwards have been amazing all year and they stepped up again.

"The defence is a sign of a quality side. The way the boys work for each other is something we're really proud of.

"I think we've got what it takes. We know we've got big travel ahead of us, but we're enjoying being in this part of the season."

It's the longest single-season winning streak in Brumbies history, which is pretty impressive when you consider the all-star roster they boasted in the early 2000 glory years.

Back then it was all about Stephen Larkham, Joe Roff, George Gregan and George Smith and their on-field brilliance.

Now it's about a team which was written off just two months ago before finding the style of rugby capable of helping Australian rugby forget about the drama surrounding Israel Folau.

This Brumbies team is the real deal and a genuine chance to claim the club's first Super Rugby title since 2004.

The way Canberra Stadium erupted with excitement after just 56 seconds when Pete Samu found space was proof of that.

The flame throwers, a new addition to Brumbies games, kept the crowd warm, but the running rugby, the tries, the passes and even the rolling mauls put the smiles on their faces.

We've seen glimpses of that sort of rugby over the years. A big win here or a miraculous try there. This Brumbies team is doing it consistently, winning eight in a row at home to add to their single-season winning record.

It was the Brumbies' second biggest crowd of the year and everyone walked away happy after Samu scored a first-half double and Henry Speight crossed to open up a 24-6 lead.

The Brumbies chant that echoed around the stadium and the 11,112 fans was a reminder of all the good things about rugby.

It was exciting stuff from the opening minute. The only dampener was Samu limping off the field at half-time with a suspected hamstring injury, which could derail his hopes of flying to Buenos Aires with the rest of the team.

The Sharks rallied in the second half, but the Brumbies hung tough and Joe Powell gave them the spark they needed with a neat show and go to put the result beyond doubt.

The winner of the Brumbies-Jaguares contest will play the winner of an all-New Zealand derby between the Canterbury Crusaders and the Wellington Hurricanes.

If the Brumbies and the Hurricanes win, the Brumbies will host the grand final in Canberra on July 6.

The win against the Sharks was the Brumbies' first finals win since 2015 and they will be aiming to make the grand final for the first time since 2013.

AT A GLANCE

ACT BRUMBIES 38 (Pete Samu 2, Henry Speight, Joe Powell, Matt Lucas tries; Christian Lealiifano 5 conversions, penalty) bt DURBAN SHARKS 13 (Andre Esterhuizen try; Curwin Bosch 2 penalties, conversion) at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night. Referee: Mike Fraser. Crowd: 11,112