The "Wee Waratahs" clearly expect the Bulls forwards to be on the stampede, with NSW yesterday selecting four props for Saturday's match in Pretoria.

With the Waratahs, who leave this morning for Johannesburg, planning to be asleep shortly after take-off to acclimatise to South African conditions, the overstocked Waratahs front row will hopefully not have too many nightmares about what they will confront at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

To ensure they are not blown away by the Springboks-dominated Bulls pack, Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie has selected two props - Matt Dunning and Sekope Kepu - on the bench to act as back-up to Benn Robinson and Al Baxter. It would not surprise if Robinson and Baxter play the first half, and Dunning and Kepu the final 40 minutes to ensure the scrum is not weakened by fatigue.

The forward emphasis - which also brings flanker Rocky Elsom back to the starting line-up after a five-week absence through injury - means Timana Tahu misses out. The utility back is expected to make his comeback from the bench against the Stormers in Cape Town next Sunday.

Even though the NSW scrum has been the best of the four Australian provinces this season, McKenzie, arguably Australia's greatest Test tight-head prop, knows the intense pride South African teams take in the set-piece, and particularly on the veldt, it can easily be a match-deciding factor. It was also not surprising at Waratahs training at the Sydney Football Stadium yesterday, that two of the props - Baxter and Kepu - were wheeled out to explain that the Bulls scrum was a prime focus of the visitors.

Baxter has the added advantage of being fresh, having not been in the starting line-up since the second round against the Chiefs on February 23. The Wallabies veteran deserves his spot, making a major impact when he came on in the second half against the Sharks in Sydney last Saturday night.

"The Bulls are a really tough opponent, and we've been doing a fair bit of work looking at their scrum," Baxter said. "There are a lot of Springboks in their pack, and they have taken a few sides apart. They have a lot of size, and good technique. It is something they really pride themselves on. It is something we think they will focus on. So it is something we have to focus on."

Kepu was less expressive, but made his point. "I'm just expecting a big, physical battle up front," he said. "The other props have told me that the Bulls will definitely try to use their size to out-muscle us. We're definitely going to try to give it back to them."

In their bid to be the first Waratahs team to win six Super matches in a row, they have adopted an unusual plan to ensure they hit South Africa running. This includes attempting to sleep through most of the 14-hour flight. Tahu, overcoming hamstring problems, has to wake up at some time and walk up and down the plane so his leg does not stiffen. McKenzie said he would keep a close watch on all between Sydney and Johannesburg.

"We're not going to the moon here. We've got a plan, and not trying to complicate any further," McKenzie said.

When asked if he would be like a dormitory master making sure everyone was tucked in, he replied: "Given my reputation, I'm probably the one with the least chance of going to sleep. I'm going to try to do the right thing and go to sleep, because we did this last year and it made a big difference."

During his playing and early coaching days, McKenzie was known as "the moth" because of his insomnia and attraction to any bright hotel light that was on in the middle of the night.

Teenage Waratah centre Rob Horne yesterday seemed dazzled by it all.

"It's pretty crazy," Horne said. "There's all this medical stuff going on during the flight and just taking all these tablets to get your body ready for it. So it's going to be an experience."

WARATAHS: Sam Norton-Knight; Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Lote Tuqiri; Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess; Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (capt), Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Will Caldwell, David Lyons, Sekope Kepu, Matt Carraro, Brett Sheehan.