When asked after NSW's 20-6 loss to the Bulls at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday night about a Force side that will be desperate, he said: "We will be. It's a big clash. It sets up the back of our season."

The Force will arrive at the SFS on Saturday placed 10th on 19 points - eight points out of the top four - after letting slip a win against the Hurricanes that could have left them in fifth position.

Waugh was adamant his side's third defeat in a season-worst performance had not landed the Waratahs' campaign in crisis. "It's not panic stations," he said. "We were slightly off. We didn't win. We have to regroup, make sure we turn up and play footy."

Some may disagree with Waugh after watching the loss to the Bulls, who executed their kick-and-chase superbly, dominated the lineouts and the breakdown.

The Waratahs are on equal points [27] with the Bulls in fourth place. A win over the Bulls would have had them eight points ahead of the Bulls, who moved from fourth to third. And in light of the upset 31-6 loss by the top-of-the-table Sharks to the Cheetahs yesterday, NSW may well have been in first place on at least 31 points.

"It is almost [worth] a double win," a victorious Bulls captain Victor Matfield said.

Waugh again found himself lamenting the side's failure to convert opportunities into points, poor skills and a huge error rate that included 30 turnovers. The frustration on his face was clear.

While defending their effort, one new failing warranted mention - spark: "That is probably the product of being in the ninth round and probably having a lot of close games. It is not lack of effort, but there was certainly a lack of spark," Waugh said. "Perhaps … we are not making the most of our opportunities early. The guys subconsciously were a little off mentally. I don't think it is an issue that will repeat itself."

Matfield said the Bulls knew a bit of spark was crucial to beating NSW. "This game is all about urgency," he said. "You can see it from our side - I can't talk about them - the guys were just so quick to the rucks. We knew we had to get numbers and get there before them. That is one of the things why we won the game."

So, assuming the Waratahs do rediscover their verve, how do they eliminate the error rate?

Coach Chris Hickey says he is not about to cancel the cricket game NSW play for 10-15 minutes before every training run and replace it with extra catching and passing sessions. "It is more about decision-making than execution, knowing when you can look to offload that ball [or] need to hang on to it. I don't think 100 more passes a week is going to necessarily help in that regard."

Hickey has also defended his speculating over the past two weeks on how many points the Waratahs will need to make the finals. He rejects suggestions this distracts team preparation.

"Every coach knows exactly how many points they have got and have to get. I don't have any trouble talking about it," he said.

"When you get to this stage of the season you have to start looking at what you think historically will get you into the four. Every coach would need that, except maybe the Cheetahs coach."

That coach, Naka Drotske, may wish to reply to that come May 1 when NSW play his 14th-placed side in Bloemfontein - the first match of their South African tour.