The Sharks produced a superb second-half display to claim a bonus-point victory over South African rivals the Cheetahs and seal their spot in the Super 15 play-offs.

A top-six finish looked in some doubt for the Sharks at half-time as they trailed 15-6 at Kings Park, but they turned things round after the break as they scored four unanswered tries through Keegan Daniel, Charl McLeod, Marcell Coetzee and Ryan Kankowski.

Sharks fly-half Frederic Michalak also contributed 14 points with the boot in the victory, with the Cheetahs points coming from five Riaan Smit penalties before the interval.

Earlier results had seen the Sharks slip to eighth in the standings at kick-off in Durban, and their situation did not look like improving following a disappointing first-half performance which saw them behind by nine points at the break.

However, the hosts looked a different team in the second period and it took them just four minutes to start their fightback with Daniel crossing for the opening try of the match, with Michalak adding the extras.

McLead then made the most of some superb skill from man of the match JP Pietersen to cross for the Sharks' second try in the 58th minute before Coetzee charged away to add another score three minutes later, with France fly-half Michalak converting both.

That left the hosts 27-15 ahead and there was still time for them to grab a bonus point when Kankowski went over for the final try of the match in the 74th minute, Michalak again adding the conversion with a straightforward kick.