The NSW Waratahs have one foot in the Super Rugby finals after powering to a 33-7 bonus-point triumph over the Highlanders on Saturday night.

A tryscoring hat-trick to centre Tom Carter and another scintillating display from fullback Kurtley Beale lifted the Waratahs back into the top six with their five-try rout.

NSW should clinch a playoff spot with victory over the out-of-contention Brumbies at ANZ Stadium next Saturday night.

Only an unlikely sequence of results in South Africa over the last two rounds would deny the Tahs their fifth finals appearance in seven years should they topple the Brumbies.

While Carter savoured his first-ever three-try haul for the Waratahs, Beale was once again the standouts.

The classy fullback lit up the Sydney Football Stadium on an otherwise drab winter's night with two magical runs that led to NSW's first two tries of the game - and a 12-0 advantage.

First he beat three defenders in a mazy 30-metre raid before grubber-kicking for Carter to score in the ninth minute.

He topped that effort by initiating a brilliant 80m team try seven minutes later.

From nothing, Beale sped 50m downfield before kicking for halfback Luke Burgess, who offloaded to hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, who in turn found flanker Dave Dennis in support to finish off the movement.

Despite the desperate Highlanders throwing everything at them, the Waratahs were never headed after that.

Like most at the ground, NSW coach Chris Hickey could only marvel at Beale's five-star display.

"He shows he's a world-class player, doesn't he," Hickey said.

"Some of the things out there tonight that came off for him - and some that don't necessarily come off still create opportunities.

"He's playing with a great deal of confidence and we certainly want to keep him in the game."

Defeat eliminated the eighth-placed Highlanders from finals contention, while the successful return from nagging hamstring injuries of skipper Phil Waugh and powerhouse No.8 Wycliff Palu only added to NSW celebrations.

Waugh was his workaholic self until being replaced at halftime, while Palu's energy and destructive defence was a highlight of the Waratahs' win.

The only downer was Berrick Barnes trudging off in the 35th minute, the luckless midfielder still struggling to recover from a series of head knocks earlier in the season that sidelined him for several weeks.

"Berrick just wasn't feeling quite right. He felt a little bit ill so we thought it was better to replace him," Hickey said.

Palu hurt his shoulder but Hickey was hopeful it was only a "stinger" injury needing a couple of days for recovery.

After enjoying a 12-point buffer at the break, the Waratahs defended doggedly for most of the second half to retain their 19-7 lead, before sealing victory with late tries to Carter and replacement winger Josh Holmes.

"It's important to recognise how good a team the Highlanders are," Waugh said.

"Often the opposition gets overlooked but they've been a quality side this year and to come up out the way we did, score five tries on the back of coming back from South Africa, I think is a pretty big effort from the guys."

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