Beaten but not bowed, the NSW Waratahs will welcome back the experience of Justin Harrison and Mat Rogers next weekend as they attempt to show Saturday night's loss to the Crusaders was just a hiccup on the way to the Super 12 semifinals.

Second rower Harrison is expected to come straight back into the team for the game against the Hurricanes after a serving a three-week suspension for racial abuse while a fully fit Rogers may well be squeezed into a re-jigged backline.

Whether that is offset by the loss of lock Daniel Vickerman (AC joint) and flanker Wycliff Palu (shoulder) who sustained their injuries against the Crusaders, is likely to be determined by Monday.

The Waratahs were far from disgraced in their 33-27 loss to the Crusaders, who now look like the clear competition favourite.

In many ways it was like most of the NSW performances so far this year.

Sometimes flawed, occasionally brilliant and on balance a significant step up from what has been produced across the course of the previous two seasons.

Ultimately, big-game experience and a few small incidents counted for much.

The Crusaders' quick lineout options nullified the Waratahs' key strength for much of the first half, their speedy work at the breakdown made it difficult for the home side to get any continuity with ball in hand and the ability of the Canterburians to counter attack all added up.

Waratahs coach McKenzie had already analysed the tape by early Sunday morning and concluded there wasn't much separating the two sides.

"It was only the little things - and I think I said that all of last week," he said.

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