The Waratahs must break a decade-long drought in Hamilton next Saturday to keep their Super Rugby finals hopes alive, with coach Chris Hickey targeting nine points from their last two matches.
Hickey remained adamant his team still controlled their destiny despite Friday's 26-10 loss to the struggling Highlanders in Invercargill.
The Waratahs were certain to remain fifth, irrespective of the other round 12 results, but the loss probably cost them any chance of a home semifinal and gave some of the teams above them the chance to move further ahead.
It also left them more vulnerable to the five teams immediately below them.
Hickey may be able to strengthen his side for the Chiefs fixture if he receives positive fitness updates on prop Benn Robinson (forearm) and centre Rob Horne (buttock).
Both men missed the last two games and stayed back in Sydney in the hope an extra week's recovery would remove any lingering injury worries and give Hickey the option of flying them over for the Chiefs fixture.
"We'll look to make a decision on probably Sunday as to whether they can come over or not," Hickey said.
Team officials reported no new injuries following medicals yesterday morning before travelling to Christchurch, where the team will be based until Friday.
The Waratahs would probably do well to avoid glancing at the competition history book heading into their assignment against the Chiefs.
They have lost their last three Super tussles with the Chiefs in Hamilton, where their most recent victory was 10 years ago.
A defeat without a bonus point could do terminal damage to their 2010 finals aspirations, as it would leave them unable to tally more than 38 points.
In the first four years after the tournament expanded to 14 teams, only once has a team made the top four with less than 41 points, with the Bulls scraping through with 38 in 2006.
Wins without bonus points in their last two matches against the Chiefs and at home to the Hurricanes would leave NSW on 41 points, the same tally they accrued last year.
They finished fifth and suffered the heartbreak of missing the finals on points differential to the Crusaders.
Hickey said they would be workinghard to improve their physicality at the breakdown, a wretched kicking game and the concession of too many scrum penalties against the Highlanders.
- AAP
