They are top of the table and chasing a record sixth straight victory, but the NSW Waratahs admit they're still walking the Super 14 finals tightrope.

The Waratahs travel to Christchurch this week for what is widely considered the second-toughest road trip in Super rugby - a daunting showdown with the seven-times champion Crusaders.

With a bye the following weekend, Saturday night's encounter shapes as an eight-point match if ever there was one.

"Obviously it's a good position we're in but, in saying that, the three other teams in the top four are a game up on us with our bye to come," NSW playmaker Berrick Barnes said on Sunday.

"So this week's going to be pretty important to us.

"Unfortunately, not getting points when you get your bye week puts you under the pump.

"If these other teams win these next two, they get eight (or nine or 10) points so they're going to be up with us or in front of us."

After dispatching the Cheetahs 40-17 at the Sydney Football Stadium, NSW are shooting for six straight wins for the first time since 1927.

The Tahs have racked up five consecutive wins five times in Super rugby - in 2002, twice in 2005, and again in `06 and `08.

But Barnes acknowledges that conquering the mighty Crusaders at home is a whole new ball game.

"If you asked any punter, they'd probably say the Bulls are still the competition favourites because beating them at home is a pretty tough ask," he said.

"But until two years ago the Crusaders had won nearly 20 straight or something at home. They're a pretty formidable team playing out of Jade Stadium.

"We know what we're up against.

"They're one of those sides, a bit like the Bulls, that are extremely good at getting back at you late in the second half.

"Sides will lead on them at halftime and everything is all rosey but they're an extremely good running team and tend to play out the full 80 pretty well.

"So it's important not only to get off to a good start but also maintain that and not have lulls in the game like we did against the Cheetahs in the second half last night."

Even if they deal with the Crusaders, the Waratahs' devilish draw doesn't get any easier after the bye.

The 2008 runners-up host the Brumbies in a blockbuster round-11 derby before heading back to New Zealand for crunch games against the Highlanders and Chiefs.

The Tahs finish their regular-season campaign in Sydney against the Hurricanes.

"We're not getting ahead of ourselves," said Barnes, who returned to form with a man-of-the-match display against the Cheetahs.

"There's a big difference between the Cheetahs and the sides we're going to come up against in the next few weeks.

"Taking nothing away from the Cheetahs but if we're fair dinkum in this comp, we've got to aim up against the big ones and they're coming up."

The Waratahs are hopeful of having Wallabies back-rowers Phil Waugh (quad) and Wycliff Palu (hamstring) back for Saturday's bumper match.

"They're reasonably confident," Barnes said.

"But, in saying that, they've both got muscular things and they tend to play out over the course of the week."

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