Karolina Pliskova has further enhanced her Brisbane International record and moved within a win of a second title after a comfortable semi-final defeat of Donna Vekic on Saturday night.
The world No.8 prevailed 6-3 6-4 against the up-and-coming Croatian, preying on a misfiring serve and continuing the expert delivery of her own in an 82-minute victory.
The fifth seed will meet in-form Lesia Tsurenko in Sunday's decider after the unseeded Ukrainian blew by tournament favourite Naomi Osaka in Saturday's other semi-final.
A champion in Brisbane two years ago, Pliskova boasts the third-best winning percentage in the Brisbane tournament's history with 12 wins and just two losses.
The 26-year-old made 70 per cent of her first serves, while Vekic managed just 47 per cent of hers in the first set.
Vekic's serve improved in the second set but the pressure told in the fifth game, with a double fault - one of her seven for the match - handing Pliskova another break.
Players then traded breaks of serve in the next two games, before Vekic saved two match points on serve at 3-5.
Pliskova then missed another chance to seal the win on her own serve before completing the victory as her Australian coach Rennae Stubbs looked on in the stands.
"I think so far (it was) my best match," Pliskova said.
"I was moving pretty well today, and of course the serve has been great all week.
"Donna's a tough opponent, so I knew I had to improve from last night," she said, referring to her 6-1 1-6 6-1 defeat of Australian Ajla Tomjlanovic.
A win on Sunday would see her become the third woman to win two Brisbane titles following Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.
"It's going to be tough," Pliskova said of the battle that awaits on Pat Rafter Arena.
"She's beaten top players here, I'm expecting a tough one."
