Coach Glenn Moore wants to make it three in a row in Sydney and has made just one change to the team that lost narrowly to the Hurricanes last week.
Fetu'u Vainikolo is restored to the left wing after serving a one-match suspension.
Vainikolo was stood down by Highlanders management and censured by the New Zealand Rugby Union after throwing a drink over a woman in a Dunedin bar hours after the loss to the Brumbies.
Southland utility back Kendrick Lynn drops to the bench.
The Waratahs are wary of the Highlanders, given their recent record at the Sydney Football Stadium.
"They're only on three competition points, but they could easily be up with us on nine points," coach Chris Hickey said.
"They would have come away from the Brumbies match thinking they should have had a bonus-point victory, and then last week they also had the match in their grasp against the Hurricanes.
"You definitely wouldn't expect them to fall short of the 80 minutes this week."
The Highlanders have been close to snatching a win in the first two games, with narrow losses to the Brumbies, 33-31, at Carisbrook and the Hurricanes, 22-17, at the Cake Tin.
This week they are without two of their All Blacks.
Captain Jimmy Cowan has again been ruled out with his elbow injury, and vice-captain and loosehead prop Jamie Mackintosh is out of action for at least another five rounds after damaging a knee.
The pair's absence leaves flanker Adam Thomson as the Highlanders' only current All Black.
Thomson, the stand-out player for the Highlanders in the first two games, has been an inspiration to the younger players.
The Highlanders showed promise in the first two matches but were not able to shut either game down while holding the lead near the end.
Loose passing cost the Highlanders the match in Wellington when they lost the ball, the Hurricanes attacked from their own 22 and All Black Conrad Smith scored the winning try.
The Waratahs, one of four unbeaten teams, are second on the standings after recording wins over the Hurricanes and Chiefs.
Double international Timana Tahu has been benched and replaced by Tom Carter in the No 12 jersey for the Waratahs.
In the only other change to the starting XV, hooker Adam Freier replaces fellow Wallaby Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Two Wallabies will bring up milestones for the hosts, with captain Phil Waugh playing his 100th Super rugby match and No 8 Wycliff Palu his 50th match for the Waratahs.
The match starts at the Sydney Football Stadium at 9.40pm (NZ time).
