The NSW Waratahs took a giant step towards securing a home semi-final with a crushing 25-10 bonus-point victory over the Sharks in their Super 14 blockbuster at the Sydney Football Stadium.

In easily their best performance of the season, the Waratahs piled on four tries to one after the break to blitz the shellshocked Sharks and surge to second place on the competition table.

NSW's fifth successive win also completed a perfect home campaign for the Waratahs ahead of a demanding two-match road trip of South Africa.

The Tahs can probably now clinch a home semi with two wins from their last three regular-season matches against the Bulls, Stormers and Queensland Reds in Brisbane.

And on the scintillating form, the Waratahs will believe anything is possible in 2008.

A bonus-point triumph over the second-placed Sharks appeared but a pipedream when a career-first penalty goal in the 12th minute from superstar winger Lote Tuqiri provided the only score of another tight first half at the SFS.

But four quickfire tries between the 48th and 65th minutes blew the match open, advancing the Waratahs from a shaky 3-0 buffer to unassailable 25-3 advantage.

Fullback Sam Norton-Knight was first to cross, off a long pass from five-eighth Kurtley Beale, before powerhouse No.8 Wycliff Palu literally steamrolled over for the first of his two five-pointers seven minutes later.

After jolting the ball free with an earth-moving hit on Springboks forward AJ Venter, Palu accepted an offload from replacement hooker Adam Freier, brushed off Sharks fullback Stefan Terblanche and then rode roughshod over winger Odwa Ndungane to touch down next to the posts.

Beale's conversion made it 15-3 and the game was as good as over when centre Tom Carter regathered Beale's probing chip kick to score NSW's third try in the 59th minute.

Inspirational captain Phil Waugh put Palu for his second in the 65th minute before the Sharks grabbed a consolation try three minutes from time to Ndungane.

After a scoreless first half against the Lions last week, Waratahs fans had to sit through another dour first stanza.

Not a recognised kicker, Tuqiri slotted his first-ever goal in Super rugby from 48 metres out before the two teams traded defensive blows for the remainder of the half.

The dual international attempted a second long-range shot, this time from 47 metres out and two metres in from touch, but left it well short in the only other scoring opportunity of the half.

The Sharks suffered a major setback early - and the game was robbed of one of its drawcards in the process - when French World Cup star Frederic Michalak was forced from the field with a knee injury.

The classy playmaker lasted only nine minutes before seemingly hyper-extending his left knee and limping off after failing to respond to extensive treatment.

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