Even with a playoff spot not out of the question, the NSW Waratahs must be entering the frenetic final round of the Super 14 wondering what might have been in 2009.

The seventh-placed Waratahs - who need a bonus-point win over the lowly Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday morning AEST plus other results to go their way to secure a playoff spot - are a statistical anomaly.

After a wild and wacky season, the Waratahs face the bizarre prospect of being the first team in Super rugby history to win all five matches on foreign soil yet miss out on the semi-finals.

For that to happen, the up-and-down Tahs would also have become the first Australasian team to record a hat-trick of victories in South Africa.

On the flip side, the Waratahs could yet squeeze into the top four and keep alive their hopes of an elusive first title despite crossing for just 22 tries from 12 matches this campaign - their worst return in 13 seasons of Super rugby.

In 2007, the Waratahs scored 24 tries from 13 outings in finishing second last, while the class of 2000 also managed just 24 five-pointers - from 11 matches - in what represented the franchise's poorest return in a decade of the old Super 12.

Their paltry tryscoring strike rate leaves the Waratahs with the second-worst attacking record in the tournament, behind only wooden-spooners the Cheetahs.

But it also highlights the Waratahs' mighty defence.

Despite their mid-table standing, the Tahs boast easily the best defensive record in the competition, having conceded an average of less than 15 points a game.

Coach Chris Hickey admits it's been a frustrating campaign for the Tahs and their supporters.

"There's obviously some elements of our game that we're really pleased with. Particularly our defence this year has been a strong point," Hickey said on Thursday.

"I guess in attack we probably feel that we've created a lot of opportunities but our finishing has let us down at times."

Hickey, though, insists it's too soon to write off the Waratahs, whose series of sudden-death victories have them primed for a finals charge - if they just manage to make it.

"It's a tough competition, the super 14. You're never going to be at the top of your form throughout the whole season," he said. "If you look at all teams, they'll go through highs and lows.

"We've probably built some momentum over the last three or four weeks. If you can go into the finals series with that momentum behind you, then that puts you in good shape.

"We're in a pretty good position going into this game. But, at the end of the day, you've still got to go out and perform.

"We're certainly not focused on those other results. If we don't take care of this game, then all the rest is irrelevant anyhow.

"We've just got to control what we can control and hopefully get a good performance on the park against the Lions."

Hickey has shown faith in the same squad that accounted for the Sharks 16-12 in Durban last Saturday, with reserve halfback Brett Sheehan set to earn his 50th Super cap after being cleared of a shoulder charge.

Waratahs squad: Lachie Turner, Peter Playford, Timana Tahu, Kurtley Beale, Lote Tuqiri, Daniel Halangahu, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (capt), Ben Mowen, Will Caldwell, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Damien Fitzpatrick, Sekope Kepu, Chris Thomson, Luke Doherty, Brett Sheehan, Sam Norton-Knight, Tom Carter.

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