THE Waratahs are negotiating to play in a star-studded World Club Championship game against French giants Toulon just a week before their Super Rugby title defence kicks off.

NSW are in deep talks with the Top 14 champions about playing the game in Toulon on February 5 or 6, before making a rapid dash back to Sydney to prepare for their Super Rugby season opener against Western Force on February 15.

Because it would be the Tahs’ third and final pre-season game, they would field a stellar top side that features nearly all the players who took out the 2014 title.

Kurtley Beale v Matt Giteau, Israel Folau v Leigh Halfpenny, and Adam Ashley-Cooper v his best mate Drew Mitchell are some of the mouth-watering potential match-ups that would take place if the match can be finalised.

Waratahs captain Dave Dennis was put through a gruelling pre-season session at Moore Park on Thursday. Source: News Limited

Waratahs captain Dave Dennis said his side will only make the arduous trip if they felt it would not hamper their preparations for the round one match in Sydney.

“It still can happen, it’s a possibility, at this stage if it was to happen it would be our last trial,” said Dennis, who would likely make his return to the field in that game after undergoing knee surgery four months ago.

“It would have to be a Thursday or Friday game over there so we have time to travel back and start our normal week for the Force. We’ve got a Sunday game so we’re going to have to get back by the previous Saturday or Sunday to start a normal Monday week.

“Obviously there is a bit of a gamble there. It is a great opportunity for us as a club, but you want to be in the best position to win the first round.

“We’ve got to get that balance, so that’s where it was all left when I last spoke to Cheik.

“He was over there [in France] so maybe he had the chance to catch up to them.

Toulon’s Matt Giteau could line up against the Waratahs in February. Source: Getty Images

“From the players’ point of view they’d want to go, and from a rugby perspective fan point of view it would be good.

“But you don’t want to — and we never would — disrespect that first round. The priority is winning the first round of footy.

“Hopefully it can still come to fruition.”

The two teams had discussed the idea of playing a match last year but it could not be agreed upon due to clashing dates.

. Waratahs players were pushed to their limits on their return to pre-season training'. Source: Supplied

Toulon is the world’s most famous rugby, boasting a who’s who of rugby stars on their past and present rosters.

Along with Giteau, Halfpenny and Mitchell, Toulon boasts Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha, Carl Hayman, Ali Williams, Juan Smith and English brothers Delon and Steffon Armitage.

Defending Super Rugby champions NSW begin their defence against the Force on a Sunday, but have a short turnaround, playing their round two match in Melbourne just five days later.

What could aid the planning of the Toulon game is that NSW has the bye in round three, which would allow their players to recuperate from the France trip and two opening games before the crunch match in round four against Queensland.

That match in Brisbane should feature current Toulon star James O’Connor, who will join the Reds in January, as well as former NRL and AFL star Karmichael Hunt.