Record-breaking captain Phil Waugh is in doubt for NSW's must-win Super 14 clash with the Cheetahs on Saturday night after suffering a quad strain in the Waratahs' vital 39-32 victory over the Blues.

Waugh had a scan on Sunday and will learn on Monday whether he is available for the first of NSW's three critical games over the coming month.

The fourth-placed Waratahs host the Cheetahs at the Sydney Football Stadium before travelling to New Zealand to tackle the seven-time champion Crusaders.

They then have a bye in round 10 and are home to fellow finals aspirants the Brumbies.

With no points on offer for the bye, the Tahs know they must win at least two of their next three matches to remain in the playoff mix.

"The important thing at this stage is that we're in touch with the four. It just means that you're in charge of your own fate," NSW coach Chris Hickey said.

"So as long as we keep getting out there and winning games, it keeps us in contention for the finals."

Waugh - NSW's most-capped player with 121 state games to his credit - suffered his injury two minutes after the interval on Saturday night, while fellow Wallabies Berrick Barnes (sternum), Wycliff Palu (hamstring) and Al Baxter (calf) also failed to complete the match.

Waugh, though, is said to be the only player struggling to be fit for the Cheetahs fixture.

"We always knew going into it that Cliffy Palu probably wouldn't get the full distance and we were really pleased to get 40 minutes out of him," Hickey said.

"That was terrific, so we knew that one was coming.

"Also we've got to be very cautious with Al Baxter's calf muscle and he was starting to feel that again, so that was the reason for the substitution there.

"Berrick Barnes went into the game with a sternum injury, copped a heavy knock on that, so he was really struggling there and started to develop some cramp as well.

"But one of the good things this year is whenever anyone's come off the bench for us, they've really made a good contribution.

"If you haven't got that 22-man squad, you'll find it's a tough competition to win games in.

"So the depth of our numbers 16 to 22 really shone through again."

After leading 14-0 early and then 21-7 late in the first half, NSW needed a length-of-the-field intercept try from winger Lachie Turner eight minutes from fulltime to get out of jail in a thrilling encounter played at breakneck speed.

The match featured nine tries, with both sides grabbing bonus points, and losing coach Pat Lam said it was the sort of game to bring the fans back.

"The game was probably one of the fastest games of the year, very entertaining," Lam said.

"It was good for the game of rugby because the way the rules are at the moment, the ball's there to be used.

"That's why we've got a good product at the moment and both teams came to the party and it was good."

Since being criticised for playing boring rugby in a dour round-four win over the Sharks, the Waratahs have now scored 16 tries in their past two home games.

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