The Crusaders finished third on the Super 15 rugby table and claimed the New Zealand conference title with a gutsy 16-9 win over the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday night.
The Blues, who finished fourth, are the other New Zealand side to proceed to the top-six playoffs.
The other four finalists are the Reds, the Stormers, the Sharks and the Waratahs.
The Reds locked up the minor premiership with an entertaining 19-11 victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton, and the Waratahs qualified for the playoffs with a convincing 41-7 win over the Brumbies in Sydney.
The Blues will host the Waratahs in the first round of playoffs in Auckland next week and the Sharks, who beat the Bulls 26-23 in Pretoria, will play the Crusaders in Nelson.
The Stormers beat the Cheetahs to finish second overall.
