Waratahs coach Michael Cheika is expected to name Folau on Tuesday in his starting side for Saturday's game, unless he receives a direction ruling otherwise from the ARU, which last Friday pulled the fullback from playing because of his throat injury.

NSW players say the issue will not be a distraction for them before Saturday's must-win game against the Bulls at Allianz Stadium.

But it is still one they could do without; especially with the added interest that there will be in the outcome of Cheika's SANZAR disciplinary hearing on Wednesday following his verbal clash with a television cameraman during their loss to the Sharks in Durban.

On Monday, former Wallabies and Waratahs flanker Simon Poidevin was asked about the ARU's handling of Folau's playing status and said: "The best interest of the player always comes first. But clearly communication seems to have been problematic and has elevated the issue with such a high profile player, [it] has put unnecessary pressure on Israel Folau and the Waratahs."

The Waratahs are not using Folau's late unavailability as an excuse for their 28-16 loss to the Force in Perth. But Folau is known to be upset about having not been called by the ARU before its ruling, and that the Waratahs management is angry with the ARU for such a late overruling of Cheika's decision to select Folau after he passed a fitness test in training.

But if the Waratahs players are upset, they were not showing it publicly on Monday when they reassembled at their Moore Park base after a bruising three-game tour that brought them one win against the Stormers and losses to the Sharks and Force.

Asked if he had anything more to say, Folau smiled and said: "No comment."

Winger Cam Crawford said: "Yes and no," when pressed on whether Folau's late withdrawal impacted the team.

"We trained with him all week, but saying that, we were still prepared going into the game even though it was a Friday night decision, and we were confident enough going into the game," Crawford said.

"It's always a loss, having the calibre of that type of player not in the team; but we definitely had the personnel to win the game.

"We were confident. We just didn't get the job done."

Asked if doubts over Folau playing this Saturday remained in the minds of the Waratahs, even if he was named by Cheika to play, Crawford said: "I don't think we can afford to have those question marks in our head.

"We will train hard and train with whoever we are playing in that position and just go into the game knowing we need a win rather than focusing on who's in and who's out."

Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau said he had no issue with the ARU medical review process when asked if players might be comfortable with an independent medical panel, rather than one run by the ARU.

"Whoever is in charge of the medical, they are there for the reason," Polota-Nau said. "I've gone through plenty of those and they make the best decisions."

But Polota-Nau said the ARU had never intervened on any of his returns from injuries: "No ... mine are more lazy injuries like breaking bones and stuff. It's not as important as breaking your vocal chords. Izzy, if there is one thing he can do, he can sing – and sing very well."