Darren Coleman has sought the knowledge of former Chiefs and current Wallabies coach Dave Rennie as the Waratahs look to match it with the Kiwis.
The Waratahs will open Super Round against the Super Rugby Aotearoa runner-up, with just one point separating the two sides on the ladder.
After a crushing victory over the Western Force, Coleman confirmed he was picking the brain of Rennie to best understand their mindset, with the Wallabies coach delivering back-to-back titles in 2012 and 13 for the Waikato-based club.
"I had a really cool conversation (Saturday) morning with Dave Rennie. Obviously I thought if anyone's going to know the Kiwi psyche and how to pull them apart it'd be him,” Coleman told Stan Sport after the victory.
"I don't know when he said 'us and them' I didn't know which one he was talking about but it was good...he's been a good little sounding board for me as have the other Wallabies staff. I just wanted to bounce some ideas off him and try and attack these guys.
"I'm starting to get my head around it and we'll review this in a normal way like we do and then we'll turn our attention to the Kiwis.
"If we kick as inaccurately in general play as we did today we'll be having a rough time."
The Waratahs were well aware of what awaits them on Friday, with forwards coach Pauli Taumoepeau still after further improvements despite their strong showing against the Force.
“Their brand of rugby over there is quicker than what we’ve probably been used to the last couple of weeks,” Taumoepeau notes.
“I don’t think that there needs to be an overhaul in the system, but we probably just need to check our foot speed as to how quickly we’re getting into position.”
“The thing about the Kiwi teams, especially the Chiefs, is that they thrive on that unstructured attack - they love that turnover ball, and they take those opportunities really quickly,” flyhalf Tane Edmed added.
“For us, it’s trying to minimise those opportunities and just play our game and try and keep the game in control.”
The Waratahs will be hopeful flyhalf Ben Donaldson will make his return from a calf complaint, however, will not rush him given the impressive form of Tane Edmed.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs have their own issues with All Blacks Brodie Retallick (thumb) and Anton Lienert-Brown (shoulder) out long-term, with Bryn Gatland and Josh Ioane racing the clock to be fit.
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