The Waratahs regard breaking their lengthy Super Rugby drought in New Zealand as the biggest challenge of their season, as they prepare to face a smarting Chiefs side.
Up to second on the ladder and first in the Australian conference after three straight bonus-point wins, NSW play the two-time defending champions in New Plymouth on Saturday.
NSW have lost their past eight games in New Zealand and haven't won there in four years.
"Obviously we are carrying some baggage of previous Waratahs teams that have crossed the Tasman," New Zealand-born Waratahs assistant coach Daryl Gibson said on Tuesday.
"For us, as part of our transformation process, becoming the team that we want to become, winning in New Zealand is part of that.
"We see that as our greatest challenge of the season and one that we are eager to take up."
Gibson acknowledged the Waratahs task has been made harder by the 45-8 flogging the Chiefs were given by the Hurricanes last week.
That loss, combined with the Crusaders win over the Highlanders, dropped them to eighth on the overall ladder and fourth in the ferociously competitive New Zealand conference, albeit just two points off the lead.
"Certainly I think they are going to have a lot more sting in their tail this week," Gibson said.
"We know that the Chiefs are going to be absolutely up for this game."
While NSW have scored 16 tries in their past three games, attack coach Gibson focused more on the work done by his defence counterpart Nathan Grey.
"Sure we're scoring plenty of tries, but I think the best thing about our team this year is we certainly restrict a lot of points against," Gibson said.
"We don't concede many tries, we're very proud of our defence.
"Nathan has done particularly well. He's turned us into a very physical and frugal team on defence."
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