NSW Waratahs halfback Luke Burgess believes the help he has sought on his shaky passing game from Wallabies great Nick Farr-Jones is beginning to bear fruit.

Few players have had to so publicly take a longer, harder or more honest look at an aspect of their game than the Waratahs No.9, who burst into the Wallabies last year before his passing game came under the spotlight.

"Nick's always there to work with and I've got fantastic support here (at the Waratahs) and I'm certainly using that support and using the facilities and the resources I have," Burgess told reporters on Thursday.

"Just generally there's always a focus on my passing, that's the foundation of my game.

"I need to provide good service being a halfback so I'm focusing on that and that's always challenged by various pressures.

"But that's the challenge of playing halfback, it's very enjoyable."

Burgess admits he won't throw the perfect pass every time, but said he had learned not to dwell on his errors.

"On occasion (against the Hurricanes last week) I threw a bad pass, but I always do that," he said.

"It's something that you need to move on from, you can't dwell on a bad pass and not every pass of mine's going to be perfect and I understand that.

"All I can do is work on making every pass perfect.

"I see a fair bit of improvement from a confidence point of view and experience."

Burgess will be tested by nine-Test All Black opposite number Brendon Leonard when the Waratahs play their first home game of the Super 14 campaign against the Chiefs on Friday night.

"He's excellent, he's one of the top halfbacks in New Zealand," Burgess said.

"He's very athletic, quite strong and big, likes to take on the line so he's certainly a threat from that aspect. He's a good all-round player."

The Waratahs are at close to full strength as they seek to build on their upset 26-22 win over the highly rated Hurricanes in Wellington last week and end a three-match losing streak to the Chiefs.

The Hamilton-based side have been struck by injury this week, with big names Mils Muliaina and Sione Lauaki missing from the Sydney Football Stadium clash.

"Obviously it's a loss for them but I guess the thing about New Zealand rugby is that one of their top players gets out and they'll bring up another up and coming player who's certainly up to speed," NSW captain Phil Waugh said.

"(Mike) Delany at fullback's played a lot of Super 14 last year with the Highlanders and the No.8's (Colin Bourke's) probably bigger than Lauaki so it should be tough."

NSW Waratahs: Sam Norton-Knight, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (capt), Ben Mowen, Will Caldwell, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Adam Freier, Dan Palmer, Chris Thomson, Scott Fava, Brett Sheehan, Daniel Halangahu, Tom Carter.

Chiefs: Mike Delany, Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Callum Bruce, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Colin Bourke, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam (capt), Kevin O'Neill, Toby Lynn, Ben May, Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo. Res: Aled de Malmanche, James McGougan, Craig Clarke, Serge Lilo, Toby Morland, Dwayne Sweeney, James Wilson.

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