The NSW Waratahs are treating Thursday night's final Super 14 trial against the Crusaders as the ideal acid test of where they sit heading into the new season.

NSW finished second last in a terribly disappointing, injury-ravaged 2007 season, but have won both their trial matches this year and are enthusiastic about their 2008 prospects.

Coach Ewen McKenzie has named 13 Wallabies in a strong side to take on the Crusaders as NSW prepare for their season-opening clash at home against the Hurricanes on February 16.

Having overcome Queensland and the Brumbies in previous trial matches, the 'Tahs know they will need to lift another gear against the Crusaders, the competition's most successful team.

"We've had two games now and we're hopefully moving towards settling our team for our first game against the Hurricanes," lock Dan Vickerman told AAP in Sydney.

"The Crusaders have had a pretty good preparation ... so it should be a good, hard, physical game.

"They'll give us a fair indication of how the pre-season's been going."

NSW won just three of their 13 games last season, and drew one, to finish only above Queensland on the Super 14 table.

But they were beset by injuries and suspensions, with key forwards Vickerman, Phil Waugh and Al Kanaar all spending substantial parts of the season on the sidelines.

The side is now close to full strength, however, with Lote Tuqiri the biggest name missing from Thursday's trial, while league convert Timana Tahu will continue his transition to the code against the Crusaders.

McKenzie has no doubt the Waratahs can enjoy massive improvement this season.

"The reality is the competition's tight. The competition's always tight," he said.

"It's a competition where you can be at either end (of the ladder) very quickly. Even the Crusaders have finished last in the competition.

"We'll see how it pans out but hopefully we get a bit more luck than last year and we'll certainly be trying to create more luck."

Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, who will also take over as Wallabies mentor after the Super 14 season, is wary of NSW.

"The Waratahs have had some good hit-outs," he said of their pre-season form.

"And having observed some pre-season fixtures, I think (they're) pretty keen to do something pretty significant this year."

McKenzie believes five-eighth Kurtley Beale is ready to show his full potential after the side's injury woes forced him into the spotlight earlier than the NSW coach had hoped in 2007.

He is the sort of player Vickerman feels can launch the Waratahs up the table this season.

"We have some fantastic players and certainly some game breakers," he said.

"As a group, if we play well week-in and week-out, that'll help us get to where we want to be.

"I think there's 14 teams out there that want to win the comp and we're no different. We're going to play as well as possible."

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