NSW Waratahs coach Bob Dwyer aptly summed up the situation when he said "talk is cheap".

After the annual week of wind-ups and sledges, old foes NSW and Queensland will settle their differences on the rugby field at Aussie Stadium on Saturday night.

State pride and Wallaby jerseys are on the line, but even more importantly at this stage of the season, Super 12 points.

It is a game both teams, particularly last-placed Queensland, must win.

The Waratahs are in third place on the Super 12 ladder but slip back to the pack with a loss, while the Reds are yet to crack their first win.

"Every game is now vital, we've had two losses, we don't want any more," Dwyer said.

"We want to win each week, we're playing Queensland this week and we want to win, badly."

The Reds talk this week was that they would lift for the match against their arch rivals, who they have never lost to in the history of the Super 12.

"It's ingrained in us from a young age that when you come up against that Blue jersey it's the biggest game of the year and you always put in a good performance," Queensland forward Matt Cockbain said.

Dwyer believed this was true but questioned the Reds' motives.

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