Injury concerns over Waratahs captain Phil Waugh and fellow loose forward Wycliff Palu have eased with both being included in New South Wales Waratahs team to play the Crusaders in a Super 14 rugby match in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Palu has been confirmed at No 8 for the ninth round match after recovering from a hamstring injury while Waugh has been bracketed on the openside flank with Chris Alcock, a debutant in last weekend's 40-17 defeat of the Cheetahs.
Waugh's quad strain continues to be monitored and he will be given until game day to prove his fitness.
Encouragingly, Waugh ran freely at the squad's final training session before tomorrow's departure for Christchurch.
"Cliffy's good to go which is great news, and we're really confident with Phil as well," Waratahs head coach Chris Hickey said.
"Phil's injury is one which is hard to play through so we need to be assured he'll be OK to take the field before we finalise the team. At this stage though, we're pretty sure that will be the case."
If included Waugh renews his long-standing rivalry with Crusaders and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, an opportunity for the veteran to reignite a 79-test test career stalled last year by the presence of George Smith and emergence of David Pocock.
"He still has Wallaby aspirations and his form has been of a consistently high standard," Hickey said.
"He wants to measure himself against the best and we all know McCaw is a world class player."
The only other change to last week's team sees Ben Mowen move to the blindside flank while Dave Dennis drops to the reserves bench.
"Both Benny and Dave have been playing well and there's not much between them at all," Hickey said.
"Ben made the most of his opportunity to start last week when Cliffy was out injured and deserves another chance in the starting side and we know Dave will provide plenty of punch from the bench."
The Waratahs lead the competition standings on points differential with 28 - the same tally as the defending champion Bulls.
The Waratahs were the last Australian team to beat the Crusaders at home, the 43-19 win at the start of 2004 represents the only Australian victory in Christchurch from 18 games dating back to the start of 2001.
The Waratahs are attempting to solidify their position in the top four by winning six successive games for the first time in their Super history.
