EWEN McKENZIE last night indicated he would be prepared to work with his NSW Rugby Union board detractors if they did a U-turn and reinstated him as Waratahs coach next season.

However, the chance of leading Waratahs officials giving him back his job is remote, in spite of a committed push from some NSW rugby powerbrokers to get McKenzie reappointed. Those leading the "Bring back Link" campaign argue that due to the struggle in finding a coaching replacement and McKenzie having fulfilled the original objective of taking the Waratahs to the finals, the NSWRU board had to realise its mistake and reverse the decision.

The more likely scenario remains that McKenzie will be forced to head overseas for a coaching position, with the Crusaders, who will shortly lose Robbie Deans to the Wallabies, among the candidates. While negotiations with Stade Francais in Paris are continuing, the possibility of McKenzie heading to Christchurch and joining Super 14's most successful province is gaining momentum.

NSWRU directors were not exactly rushing to talk to McKenzie yesterday when he was involved in the first home training session before Saturday night's Super 14 semi-final against the Sharks at the Sydney Football Stadium. But if they wanted to talk, McKenzie made it clear he was quite happy to meet.

"I haven't had any discussions today," McKenzie said. "I obviously have to do something in the future. So I have to look at my opportunities.

"I've been with NSW for five years, so it has never been a situation of wanting to walk out the door. But there also comes a time. So I can see it from both sides. If someone wants to talk about it, I'm happy to talk about it. That doesn't mean the situation is far different now than it was two months ago. But I'm happy to have a discussion."

Asked whether he would work "under the same regime" that had discarded him, McKenzie replied: "I find ways to make things happen. When I came to NSW I inherited a lot, and found ways to work with that group. There's a lot of those people still here, so I'm a pretty malleable sort of bloke."

McKenzie always knew that the Waratahs coaching spot had "a poisoned chalice element to it".

"I was happy to take on that challenge. I have been here longer than anyone else, and handling the environment I think I've done a pretty good job. If it ends this weekend, or next weekend, so be it," he said.

Waratahs hooker Adam Freier, who will move into the starting line-up on Saturday with Tatafu Polota-Nau sidelined this week due to a sprained wrist, stressed he was hopeful the NSW coaching brouhaha did not distract the players during finals week. Freier also made the pointed comment that it was time for everyone to look ahead.

"You couldn't pay me enough money to be a coach after football," Freier said.

When asked about the speculation about McKenzie being reappointed, Freier said: "If that does happen, I don't think it would probably be the right thing on Ewen's or NSW part. If the decision has been made, it is important everyone moves on with it. And I think it is important that we need to start worrying about the finals series, not too much about next year. Next year is an important year for NSW. But the next couple of weeks are probably the most important, not just for the Waratahs, but for the whole state."

The Sharks, who arrived in Sydney last night, also want their mental state to be right. Before their flight, Sharks captain Johann Muller said it was "the mental side of things that we have to master more than the technical aspects of our game - which we think are pretty solid".

The semi-final referee will be New Zealand's Bryce Lawrence.

- Wellington: Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo is in doubt for the semi-final against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday, NZPA reports. So'oialo suffered bruised ribs during last Friday's 19-17 loss to the Blues.