Coach Clarke Dermody has made a bunch of changes for a game that looms as massively important for the Highlanders if they are to stay in the playoff race.
The most welcome news is the return of star man Aaron Smith from bereavement leave. Smith starts at halfback and, unexpectedly, will captain the Highlanders, as regular skipper Billy Harmon has returned to New Zealand for personal reasons.
A second All Blacks halfback, Folau Fakatava, is back on the bench after missing the awful loss to the Force in Perth with illness, so young halfbacks James Arscott and Nathan Hastie drop out of the squad.
The other changes are an intriguing mix.
Sean Withy takes Harmon’s place, and that is just reward for the clear winner of the most improved player of the season award.
Lock Pari Pari Parkinson and No8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u are nudged to the bench, and given neither is injured and neither has played an excessive amount of rugby this season, it appears to be a call based on form.
It means exciting youngster Fabian Holland will get his second Super Rugby start, and form forward Hugh Renton is back at No8.
Hooker Rhys Marshall comes on to the bench for an injured Leni Apisai.
The backline is not so much tinkered with as almost completely overhauled, with only Mitch Hunt and Fetuli Paea in the same jerseys from the Force game.
Regular fullback Sam Gilbert has moved to second five, with danger man Thomas Umaga-Jensen on the bench, presumably for a bit of a rest as his form has not really been an issue.
Gilbert has been in solid touch and showed in the big win over the Fijian Drua he is completely at home in the midfield. As Freddie Burns is missing from the bench, Gilbert will also cover first five.
Scott Gregory makes his first appearance of the season at wing, Connor Garden-Bachop moves to fullback, and Jonah Lowe switches wings.
The exciting news is the return of star winger Jona Nareki to the bench after his long injury layoff.
"We’d like to use him in the last half an hour or 20 minutes," Dermody said yesterday.
"He’s been doing some good things at training, and ticked off everything he needed to at home, so we feel like it’s a good game for him to get back involved with the team, and I know he’s pretty excited about it."
Having Parkinson, Mikaele-Tu’u, Fakatava and Umaga-Jensen on the bench means the Highlanders have some real impact potential, but there will also be acid on those senior men to step up if they get a chance.
"I think everyone is pretty real around how we performed against the Force," Dermody said.
"It’s a balance of getting a reaction out of some of those guys. Sometimes the best way is to lose your spot.
"They were disappointed, as you should be when that happens in a rugby team. We’re looking for a real response from some of those guys off the bench to impact the game."
They still have six games left, but the reality is the Highlanders must target tomorrow night as one of perhaps three clashes considered eminently winnable.
Dermody acknowledged there was an increase in intensity about the squad in Sydney.
"The language between the players is a bit different.
"Obviously, the team was disappointed in Perth. We didn’t play anywhere near the level we expect, so naturally there’s a bit more edge around this game.
"It comes down to mindset, making sure we get that right to prepare a team that is waiting and has rested Wallabies to be able to beat us, so that’s a good challenge."
The Highlanders coach had no issue with the Waratahs being quite open around resting players last weekend and targeting the Highlanders as a game that should be won.
"The reality is, if you’re going to target a New Zealand team, it’s probably going to be us."
Highlanders team
To play Waratahs
Connor Garden-Bachop, Jonah Lowe, Fetuli Paea, Sam Gilbert, Scott Gregory, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (captain), Hugh Renton, Sean Withy, Shannon Frizell, Will Tucker, Fabian Holland, Jermaine Ainsley, Andrew Makalio, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma'u, Pari Pari Parkinson, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Folau Fakatava, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Jona Nareki.
