Beauden Barrett's brilliance and a 23 man yellow brick wall has seen the Hurricanes notch up their fifth successive Investec Super Rugby win of the season in Melbourne.
The Hurricanes scored six tries during a 38-13 win over the Melbourne Rebels that has propelled them to third in the New Zealand Conference with 25 competition points.
Barrett scored two tries and set up another two in a display that showcased his freakish skill and speed with ball in hand and added four conversions for a personal tally of 18 points at AAMI Park.
No 8 Victor Vito, fullback Jason Woodward, wing Cory Jane and openside Ardie Savea also crossed the try line, but it was the collective defensive effort that set up the win over a Rebels side that found line breaks to be a scarce commodity.
The Rebels threw plenty at the Hurricanes early and got the first try of the match when wing Dom Shipperly scored though it was not through any defensive lapse.
Hurricanes wing Julian Savea tripped in the badly churned up AAMI Park turf as he tried to turn and chase a kick and Shipperly found himself winning an uncontested race to Tamati Ellison's well weighted grubber.
But there was little else for the home crowd to cheer about as the Hurricanes hit their attacking straps.
Barrett got the ball rolling when he shot through a gap from first receiver from a lineout, stepped flanker Jordy Reid, then fed a pass inside to Victor Vito for his team's first try.
The Hurricanes had one Achilles heel as they continually bungled the kick offs, but despite gifting the Rebels plenty of early possession never really looked like conceding points.
Their second try was classic counter attack, sparked by Barrett and Julian Savea, set up by former Rebel Jason Woodward's neat chip and regather, and finished by Cory Jane for his 25th Super Rugby try.
Barrett got his brace when he intercepted a Rebels pass to race 60 metres, the result of some pressing defence by the Hurricanes new look midfield of Vince Aso and Matt Proctor.
And it was Barrett's pin point cross kick into the hands of Julian Savea that created his team's fourth try near halftime. Savea was pulled down just short of the line, but Woodward was on hand to dive over from close range for a 26-8 halftime lead.
After the break the Hurricanes forward pack, led by Ardie Savea, Michael Fatialofa, Dane Coles and Vaea Fifita started to grind through the middle of the Rebels pack. The pressure told on the home team when loose forward Sean McMahon was yellow carded for spoiling the ball close to the line.
Ardie Savea extended the lead to 31-8 when he pounced on a loose ball on the Rebels try line and Barrett iced the night when he athletically reeled in a deflected kick then sliced between two cover defenders.
The match was also marked by the Hurricanes debut of Hawke's Bay flanker Tony Lamborn, who took the field in the dying stages.
The win sets up a big New Zealand derby match between the Hurricanes and Chiefs next Saturday at Westpac Stadium.
Scorers:
Hurricanes 38 (Beauden Barrett 2, Victor Vito, Jason Woodward, Ardie Savea, Cory Jane tries, Barrett 4 con) Rebels 13 (Cam Crawford, Dom Shipperley tries, Reece Hodge pen). HT: 26-8.