THE Waratahs will give Lachlan Turner every chance to recover from a shoulder injury before deciding if he should be ruled out of Friday night's derby against the Brumbies.

The classy fullback hurt his left shoulder when tackled just after kick-off in the Waratahs' rain-drenched game against the Highlanders at Carisbrook on Saturday night.

He struggled on but left the field in the 32nd minute to watch NSW go on to win 15-12.

"When he [the tackler] wrapped me up, I landed on the point of my shoulder," Turner said. "I got up and had a feeling that something wasn't right. Then I was having trouble doing the … things I take for granted like running and kicking."

Turner, who has been diagnosed with a "grade one or two" AC joint injury, has been put on anti-inflammatories and is undergoing constant ice treatment in a bid to regain fitness for the Brumbies clash.

"Hopefully I can [play] because it is a big one. I have been looking forward to this for a year now," he said.

If Turner fails to recover, coach Ewen McKenzie will have to reshuffle his back line for the SFS clash - with Kurtley Beale probably moving from No.10 to Turner's fullback slot. Sam Harris would also likely be promoted from the bench to the run-on side at No.10. Beale and Harris switched to those positions on Saturday night after Turner was forced off.

McKenzie's options otherwise are limited. Five-eighth Daniel Halangahu and Sam Norton-Knight, who plays fullback, are still on the NSW injury list that will grow to eight players if Turner is sidelined.

One option for fullback is Ben Batger, who has been playing for the Junior Waratahs. But McKenzie yesterday indicated that, based on Saturday's game, Beale would be the first choice to replace Turner.

For Beale, who has the kicking game needed for No.15, it would be his first start at full-back for NSW since last season, when they lost 33-34 to the Crusaders in Sydney on March 31.

Despite Turner's optimism yesterday, McKenzie was preparing for a change - especially with Turner's recovery time shortened by the Friday kick-off. "There is only [today and tomorrow] to put a game plan together. So it might be touch and go," McKenzie said.

Talk from the Brumbies, who have labelled themselves underdogs because of the loss of key players to retirement and injury, won't lure McKenzie into any false belief.

Losing players such as George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and Jeremy Paul overseas has cut a deep hole in their pool of experience. And having Stirling Mortlock and Adam Ashley-Cooper out is a big loss.

But the Brumbies proved with their 42-11 win over the Reds in Canberra on Saturday that they are still a side with potent attacking capabilities. "Much has been made of [the fact] they have had changes in the team. But I thought they played pretty well," McKenzie said. "The quality of those young guys coming through is pretty good.

"With the changes, it [underdog status] is an easy tag to put on them. They are coming from a bit of adversity at the moment. Just talking on form, they scored six tries [on Saturday]. They are clearly in pretty good shape regardless of who is on the field."

NSW have won seven of the 12 Super fixtures against the Brumbies, including six out of six home wins and a victory in Canberra in 2005.

McKenzie is hoping for dry weather on Friday. "We are developing other skills, playing in difficult circumstances. But we would like to play on a dry track and see how we go," he said.

In the wet against the Highlanders, McKenzie conceded NSW overplayed their hand on occasion.

"We were ambitious in our play, [in the] second half in particular," he said.

"We made some good inroads [but] we are forcing passes under pressure. That will cost you on a wet track. But I don't think it is the end of the world. "