The Stormers held off a stubborn Cheetahs effort to clinch a precious home semi-final with a 44-34 Super Rugby win on Saturday.

Tries from Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Nick Koster and Bryan Habana and 24 points from returning flyhalf Peter Grant sealed the South African conference and second place in the overall standings for the Stormers, earning them an automatic place in the last four of the competition.

The Cheetahs threatened an upset at their Free State Stadium in the final game of the 2011 regular season with tries by Davon Raubenheimer and a hat trick from winger Ryno Benjamin.

Grant kicked two late penalties to make certain of victory and end the Cheetahs' resistance, despite Benjamin's third score in the 78th minute.

The Stormers and minor premiers Queensland will have next weekend off as the play-offs begin.

NSW Waratahs will play the Blues in Auckland after NSW finished fifth with a 41-7 bonus-point win over the Brumbies in Sydney.

The third-placed Crusaders will play the sixth-placed Sharks in Nelson after the Sharks eliminated the defending champion Bulls 26-23 in Pretoria.

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