The Waratahs view Saturday's Super 14 rugby clash with the Sharks as the start of a three-week campaign which could ultimately make or break their finals campaign.

Both teams will be hungry for points, with the Waratahs starting round four in 11th position with just one victory and the win-less Sharks one place and three points further back.

Normally level headed NSW captain Phil Waugh made it clear how important the game was for both sides, as he used the words desperate and desperation at least 11 times in a six-minute press conference on Friday.

After three games on the road, the Waratahs play their next five games in Australia.

"The first game at home coming off two losses is very important, I think in many ways the next three weeks shapes our season," Waugh told reporters on Friday.

"It will be nice to get off to a good start at home tomorrow night and then we move on after that. It think it's a big game for both teams and both teams are pretty desperate."

The Waratahs enter round four five points off fourth place, but Waugh didn't view the Sharks fixture as a must-win situation just yet.

NSW coach Chris Hickey believed the home games against the Sharks and Lions and the following fixture away to the Force in Perth represented an opportunity to regain momentum after successive defeats in South Africa.

"Having one (win) out of three, coming back to two home games then off to Perth, they become very important to us," Hickey told reporters.

"If he can perform well over those three weeks, we will put ourselves right back into the picture as far as a spot in the finals is concerned."

Hickey expected the South African side to adopt a very physical approach and Waugh said the Waratahs forwards needed to confront their Sharks counterparts.

Despite the Sharks dreadful start, Hickey remains weary of a side loaded with talent.

The Sharks will field 11 Springboks in their run on side and have another four on the bench, including top quality front rowers including prop Tendai "beast" Mtawarira and hooker Bismarck Du Plessis.

"They've been in games for the first 60, 65 minutes and fallen away at the end and perhaps having that depth on the bench and bringing them into the game will work for them," Waugh said of the Sharks.

Sharks coach John Plumtree has been restored captain John Schmit to his traditional position of hooker, rather than being used as a prop.

"Obviously (Waratahs prop) Benn Robinson has had a lot of success against him (Schmit)," Waugh said.

Plumtree has also revamped his halves combination, moving versatile Ruan Pienaar from five-eighth to halfback with England Test representative Andy Goode making his first start for the Sharks at fly half.

"He (Goode) is obviously new to the Super 14, so we will be looking to put a lot of pressure on him," Waugh said.

He stressed the Waratahs had been working very hard on tightening their defence after conceding 48 points against the Bulls last week and 103 in the first three rounds.

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