NSW coach Chris Hickey admits it's something of a guessing game whether Queensland will throw plan A, B or C at the Waratahs in Saturday's Super Rugby blockbuster in Brisbane.

Buoyed by six straight wins, since their 30-6 drubbing by NSW in Sydney, the Reds have opened up a handy eight-point buffer over the Waratahs at the top of the Australian conference.

In their past two games, Queensland used vastly different tactics to overcome two South African sides.

After ending the Stormers' unbeaten record with a disciplined field-position performance, Queensland turned on a sexy six-try razzle dazzle exhibition to beat the Bulls.

"I think one of the things they've done well is develop two or three ways that they can play, obviously depending on what they think is the best against their opposition," Hickey said.

"What they bring to the table, obviously we're unsure which game it is - plan A, plan B, plan C. Who knows?

"Whichever way they decide to play, we can't choose that. We can be ready for whichever style, but we've got to keep our focus on how we want to play the game.

"It just means that you've got to have plan A, plan B, plan C yourself, which is the way you should go into most games anyhow.

"You shouldn't be stuck just into one particular game plan.

"It just means a little bit more preparation in terms of defence and a few different ideas about how you might attack."

Hickey admitted NSW probably wouldn't be able to duplicate the game plan which proved so successful against the Reds earlier this season.

"There are some elements of that game that obviously we'd think we would probably like to take into this game, but we also need to make adjustments for the fact that they've changed the way they play," Hickey said.

A Queensland win would give them a double-digit lead over NSW in the Australian conference, but Hickey denied that would put them out of reach of his team.

"It would put a little more pressure to win those games in the back half of the competition, but we are coming home after this Reds game to a run of three home games which hopefully will work in our favour."

Hickey expected to have back-rowers Phil Waugh and Wycliff Palu and centre Tom Carter back from injury and believed hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau would also play despite an AC joint issue which kept him out of contact work on Tuesday.

"I think those additions put us into a good position, but by the same token we realise it's a massive challenge and we have to find some of the form we had in the early part of the season," Hickey said.

He said five-eighth Berrick Barnes was "ticking boxes" in training and could be considered for the next game against the Rebels

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