Motivated by rugby league's State of Origin, the Durban-based Sharks earnestly believe they can turn the tables on the NSW Waratahs in Saturday night's Super 14 semi-final at the Sydney Football Stadium.

In what may prove to be a coaching masterstroke, the Sharks were in the stands for Wednesday night's Origin opener and left ANZ Stadium inspired by the toughness of the NSW and Queensland players.

Sharks coach Dick Muir said watching league's fiercest rivals go hammer and tongs was just the right tonic for his players three days before trying to reverse a 25-10 thrashing from the Waratahs four weeks ago in Sydney.

"It was great," Muir said.

"We're not fortunate enough to have other codes (in South Africa). I suppose it's good and bad.

"With other codes, there's a lot of competition. But also there's a lot of cross-pollination and a lot of research and work that's done by the other codes where you can benefit.

"So it was quite interesting to watch that and our guys are really interested in league, particularly the defensive side of it."

The Waratahs beat the Sharks all over the park last month, with the NSW forwards particularly dominant.

The Sharks, though, feel the loss might have been the best thing that happened to them this season.

The visitors certainly looked in a confident mood as they strutted around the SFS as though they owned the place, the four-try shellacking seemingly a distant memory.

"We learnt a lot from that loss," Muir said.

"Certainly we were outplayed and our season sort of turned from there. We did a couple of things differently (after that)."

Such as score back-to-back must-win bonus-point victories over the Cheetahs and the Chiefs in the last two rounds to sneak into the playoffs.

Now the last year's tournament runners-up after determined to capitalise on their late-season revival.

"We're just excited to be in the semis. It's a great opportunity for us as a group," Muir said.

"It's an incredible competition and, just to be in the semis, you give yourselves a chance and we back ourselves.

"You get to a position where you've worked so hard to be in the semis, it's no use holding back in any way. It's really all just up for grabs.

"So you've got to go out and express yourselves and make the most of the occasion."

Further boosting the Sharks' spirits was confirmation that superboot and backline star Francois Steyn will be fine to play after being in doubt all week with a rib injury.

"He's playing. He's fine. He'll be playing at 12," Muir said.

"We've still got one or two concerns, mainly with BJ Botha in the front row. But all the others are settled.

"He's got a bit of a calf weak and he's got a bout of flu as well, which doesn't help.

"We'll make a decision tomorrow. We're pretty flexible as a group, so we'll leave it until the last minute."

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