Proud skipper Jake Gordon has lauded his teammates' character and resolve as the NSW Waratahs strive to complete one of the great revivals in Super Rugby history.
The Waratahs host the table-topping Blues on Saturday night guaranteed of a Super Rugby Pacific finals berth a year after trying in vain to stave off a winless season.
Depending on other results, the Tahs will finish anywhere from fifth to seventh and face either a trip to New Zealand for a knockout quarter-final against the Crusaders or Chiefs or play the Brumbies in Canberra next Saturday night.
Gordon says it doesn't matter what scenario transpires.
"For us at the moment, carrying that momentum into the finals is really important," he said after Friday's captain's run at Leichhardt Oval.
"We've rolled out a really strong team. We want to win the game tomorrow night and wherever that puts us we'll be ready for the game next week."
Of more significance is how the Waratahs, under new coach Darren Coleman, have managed to transform themselves from bottom-placed pushovers in 2021 to genuine title contenders.
"It's awesome. It's a massive turnaround for us," Gordon said.
"At the start of the year we were just trying to make the top eight. We're now well and truly in the top eight and now we're trying to chase a Super Rugby title.
"So it's a massive turnaround from 12 months ago. To now being in a comfortable position leading into the finals is, I wouldn't say surprising, but it's a good feeling."
The Waratahs have already beaten the Crusaders in Sydney and Highlanders in Dunedin to bury the demons of years of trans-Tasman beatings at the hands of New Zealand opposition.
The defending champion Blues, especially while resting a raft of All Blacks, certainly hold no fears for Coleman's new-era outfit.
"Kiwi sides are good. We know that. But we're a good side now, too," Gordon said.
"The Blues have obviously got some really strong threats across the park, still really good in transition attack and they've got some really dangerous ball carriers.
"But they've also got to deal with our threats now, too.
"We are sitting in a really nice position and we're really excited for tomorrow night, irrespective of the Blues team. We think it's still a really strong outfit.
"It's an opportunity for us to carry the momentum that we've got."
