Two weeks out from the Super Rugby playoffs and the NSW Waratahs have already shifted well and truly into finals mode ahead of their crunch match against the Highlanders on Saturday night.

"We're treating this game as everything. If we lose to the Highlanders, that's 2011 done for us - and we know that," NSW five-eighth Daniel Halangahu said on Thursday.

"We know everything is on the line this week."

The seventh-placed Waratahs host the eighth-placed Highlanders at the SFS before playing their final "home" game of the regular season against the out-of-contention Brumbies at ANZ Stadium.

Despite back-to-back losses to the fifth-placed Sharks and sixth-placed Bulls in South Africa, the Waratahs maintain their finals fate remains in their own hands.

"If we can win our next two games, we're still controlling our destiny," coach Chris Hickey said.

"If you look at the other games, the Sharks have still got to play the Bulls and the Bulls have got to play the Stormers, so teams are going to lose points in those games.

"So we still feel if we can win the next two games, we've got a very good chance of playing in the finals series."

Hence why Hickey is giving star winger Lachie Turner (hamstring) and Wallabies prop Benn Robinson (ankle) until match eve to prove their fitness.

Hickey won't name his starting line-up until after Friday's captain's run.

But the Tahs are certain to have skipper Phil Waugh and destructive No.8 Wycliff Palu restored in the back row following more than a month out with hamstring injuries.

Halangahu, for one, will be happy for the extra protection.

"It's a bit like you've called in the big security guards and they're all surrounding you," he said.

"It's something that this team has missed for a big part of the season - two inspirational guys for us and they lead from the front.

"Phil in the way he talks and the way he acts. And Cliff, while sometimes he's a bit of a mute, he shows everything in those actions.

"The way he's looking at the moment, he's looking the best physically that I've seen him in a while.

"He is looking phenomenal at the moment. He's fit and strong.

"So hopefully we can get him out there on the weekend and he can play as many minutes as possible."

Melbourne-bound playmaker Kurtley Beale, France-bound halfback Luke Burgess and retiring prop Al Baxter will be playing their last games for NSW at the SFS.

"This is a huge occasion for us this weekend," Halangahu said.

"For football reasons - this is a grand final for us and the Highlanders - but also for the tightness of this group.

"There's a number of guys leaving us, so there's a change in the squad. These things are very important to us as a group.

"We're not just a bunch of guys who turn up and go to work. We're a very tight-knit bunch and we're losing a huge part of our squad in those guys and it will an emotional time.

"But we also know there's a job to be done."

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