The NSW Waratahs may be forced into taking on the Queensland Reds without a training session this week as they return from South Africa relying on "attitude" to secure a Super 14 semi-final berth.

A 68th-minute try to makeshift fullback Lote Tuqiri and sideline conversion from teenage five-eighth Kurtley Beale saw them clamber to a 13-13 draw with the Stormers in a wet Cape Town.

The result dropped them from second to third, leaving their finals fate in their own hands - and a tough timetable to negotiate.

The Waratahs will arrive back home on Monday afternoon following an 18-hour journey from Cape Town via Johannesburg, then take a day or two to adjust before jumping back on the plane Friday morning for the trip to Brisbane.

"It's a bit of a shit of a draw, really," coach Ewen McKenzie lamented before departing South Africa on Sunday.

"We'll struggle to get even a training session in before the Reds game. So the match will be about attitude for us."

The Waratahs enter the final round of the regular season one competition point behind the second-placed Hurricanes and probably requiring a bonus-point victory at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night to have any chance of snaring a semi-final at the Sydney Football Stadium.

In all, six teams are chasing three semi-final spots with the Crusaders already assured of top position.

On a positive note, Australia's only remaining title contenders emerged from the Stormers clash with a clean bill of health.

In possibly the only change for the clash with the Reds, former rugby league international Timana Tahu is expected to earn promotion from the bench.

Tahu is likely to come onto the wing for Matt Carraro, after making a successful comeback from more than two months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

By comparison, the Reds are in disarray.

Their 27-21 loss to the Crusaders on Saturday night will leave them without champion fullback Chris Latham (chest) and skipper John Roe (shoulder).

Winger Digby Ioane faces suspension for a dangerous tackle, hooker Sean Hardman (shoulder) is in doubt and halfback Sam Cordingley (calf) and Wallabies forwards Hugh McMeniman (ankle) and prop Greg Holmes face uphill battles to make returns from injury.

Coach Phil Mooney said he would have to nurse the Reds through the week, but promised his side would lift and try to end NSW's season on the same night as Queensland's campaign finishes.

"It's one of those challenges that as a Queensland rugby team you love," Mooney said.

"We certainly respect what the Waratahs have done this year but we're very keen to get out there and play them no matter who's there.

"Guys like Crofty (back-row stalwart David Croft), it's his last game (for the Reds) and, for other players, it's their last game and we're lucky it is the Waratahs we play.

"We could potentially be knocking them out of the semi-finals."

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