The Waratahs may be facing the most difficult stretch of the Super 12 season so far, but winger Marc Stcherbina believes his team can keep winning.

Amazingly, New South Wales has won the same number of matches in just five rounds as it did in either of the previous two seasons, and with three matches to come at home, is favoured to make the semi-finals for the first time.

Key to the success so far has been three wins away from home after the Waratahs failed to win a single match on the road in 2001, and Stcherbina said ahead of the clash with the Blues on Friday that a somewhat easy start to the season has worked in the team's favour.

"It (the draw) couldn't work any better in our favour because we're getting better with each game," said Stcherbina. "The results may have been different had we come up against some of the top sides early, so it (the draw) has actually worked in our favour.

"People say our away record is not that good and starting with three away games is a nightmare draw. The way it's turned out, it's been a dream draw.

"Luckily we got those teams at the right time and they are not as strong as the other sides so we're learning from each game and we should be peaking by the time those good teams come around.

"Admittedly we've still got some very hard opposition to come, so that will really test us and we will see whether we are as good as everybody makes us out to be and as good as we think we are at this stage.

"It remains to be seen if we can keep this form, but we're confident that we can."

New South Wales has made two changes to the team that beat the Sharks, with Patricio Noriega replacing Matt Dunning under the prop rotation system and Tom Bowman included at lock for the suspended Jono West.

West was banned for stamping by the SANZAR judiciary on Monday night, but will travel with the team to New Zealand on Wednesday after team officials indicated that they will appeal the suspension.

Waratahs skipper Matthew Burke will also equal Sam Payne's record as the most-capped NSW rugby player in the match when he takes part in his 91st game.

Meanwhile Blues coach Peter Sloane has received some good news, with x-rays clearing halfback Mark Robinson of a cheekbone fracture following a collision against the Chiefs that left him with bruising and stitches in a facial wound.

"It was a bit of a relief to hear Sharky (Robinson) was okay, it was one player we have right," Sloane said, with the team's other halfback Steve Devine set to have an operation on his ankle after suffering further problems.

While Robinson will play and Devine has been ruled out already, Sloane won't name his team until hearing more on the fitness of Vula Maimuri (hamstring, hand and shoulder problems) and Rupeni Caucaunibuca (cracked bone in his leg).

Sloane looks set to retain the same backline from last week, although if Maimuri doesn't come up he will be replaced by Ali Williams, while Sloane also faces some consideration of the mix in the loose forwards.

The coach will think about leaving Troy Flavell on the blindside rather than lock if Maimuri fails to come up, while he will also consider the performance of Justin Collins in his return from shoulder surgery.

NSW: Mat Rogers, Scott Staniforth, Matthew Burke (c), Nathan Grey, Marc Stcherbina, Duncan McRae, Chris Whitaker, David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Des Tuiavii, Van Humphries, Tom Bowman, Rod Moore, Brendan Cannon, Patricio Noriega.
Reserves: Huia Edmonds, Matt Dunning, Steve Talbot, Simon Kasprowicz, Tim Clark, Manny Edmonds, Luke Inman.