NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has conceded Australia's struggling Super Rugby sides are probably battling for just one spot in this year's finals.
All five Australian sides have lost at least two more games than they've won, with the Waratahs and Reds - both boasting dismal records of two wins and six losses - clashing in Brisbane on Saturday.
Gibson has branded the Suncorp Stadium encounter a must-win game for both sides.
The New Zealander says he can't allow himself to think or worry about his own position, which is under increasing scrutiny after three consecutive losses - the latest a capitulation to South African strugglers the Southern Kings.
The Tahs have slipped to fourth in the Australian conference, eight points behind the pacesetting Brumbies.
The Australian and New Zealand conference winners are both guaranteed a playoff place, with the three teams from across the two countries with the next highest amount of points earning the Australasian group wildcard spots.
That makes for ugly and grim reading for the five Australian teams, with the fourth-best Kiwi side currently a whopping 13 points clear of the second-best Australian outfit.
Gibson admitted the Australian teams couldn't rely on a wildcard, placing greater emphasis on winning their conference.
"We (the five Australian teams) are playing a little mini-competition amongst ourselves and that's for me the avenue to the playoffs," Gibson said on Monday.
Utility back Rob Horne said it had been a tough couple of days for the Tahs as they reflected on and dissected their poor performance in last Friday's home loss to the Kings.
The Tahs endured a video review and engaged in some honest discussions.
"It's a tough spot we're in but that's where you see what you're made of," Horne said.
"So we're looking forward to getting back out there and fortunately it's against a traditional rival there with a hundred plus years history and it's not a difficult one to get up for."
Gibson also believes a clash with their oldest rivals is just what NSW needs.
"I don't think we could have found a better opposition than the Reds this week," Gibson said.
He said hooker Tolu Latu was likely to miss this week's game with a shoulder sublaxation.
He was disappointed by his players' lack of urgency last week which he felt was down to poor attitude, but didn't expect any problem in that area against Queensland.
One area of concern is the set pieces.
"That area has been really inconsistent for us," Gibson said.
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