Israel Folau is doubtful for the Waratahs’ South African tour after taking a knock to the throat in their victory over the Rebels.

The star fullback stayed behind in Australia to see a specialist, and although coach Michael Cheika had initially been confident that he would recover in time, there are now fears that he will not make it.

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The Waratahs face the table-topping Sharks in Durban next week, and Cheika is expecting a typically physical display from Jake White’s team.

“Obviously as table toppers, they’re the team to beat,” he told AAP.

“I imagine they’d be pretty comfortable and think they’ll have our measure, I’d say.

“They’ll probably try to turn it on in the physicality and think we’ll fold. That’s their perception of the Australian teams.

“So we’ll see what happens.”

Captain Dave Dennissaid that his forward packs needs to embrace the challenge they will face up front against the Sharks.

“As a pack, it’s just pleasing to see the guy next to you really getting excited about the physicality,” Dennis said.

“Guys are getting off the line, throwing themselves into the tackle and there’s a really good feeling in the forward pack.

“From the start of the whistle, we carried hard, we hit the rucks hard.

“And we’ve known from day one that if we can do that, the guys out the back will finish off.”