Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson says he's not 'buying into any rubbish' about the Blues, ahead of their Brookvale Oval clash.
The Blues haven't beaten a New Zealand team since February 2016, and sit on the bottom of the New Zealand conference, having been ravaged by injuries this season.
Tana Umaga's team will welcome three players back into the side for Saturday's match and Gibson said he wasn't being drawn into suggestions they were vulnerable.
"I'm not buying into that rubbish," he said.
"Everyone's got their challenges, the Blues are going through theirs.
"I look at us, we're coming off a belting, 29-nil, we're still working out how that happened, learning the lessons from that and still seething from it.
"We want to make sure we respond well and we'll get that opportunity this week."
Israel Folau is the big name returning for the Waratahs, slotting into fullback rather than the wing, where we had impressed before straining a hamstring in Canberra against the Brumbies.
Cam Clark and Lalakai Foketi also come into the starting side for the match, with Curtis Rona and Bryce Hegarty on the bench, and Gibson foreshadowing more reshuffles in a make-or-break block of matches for the Waratahs.
"We are entering a really competitive phase of our year and I really want to share that around and give guys opportunities to contribute," he said.
"We've kept largely the same team, been very fortunate with injuries this season and I don't want guys to be disheartened because they're not getting a run.
"I'm making a real strong commitment to them that things are going to be different over the next few weeks."
Will Miller comes back into the starting for the Blues clash as well, playing at blindside flanker, as the Waratahs opt for speed against the Blues.
Gibson said he had no concerns over the Brookvale Oval surface, which has been investigated by the NRL's Manly Sea Eagles after a number of their players suffered serious knee injuries on the ground.
The Waratahs completed their own assessment of the ground this week and opted against moving their match away from the northern beaches.
"We're not concerned by that surface," Gibson said.
"Obviously we've done our checks and so forth. It's really unfortunate to have recurrent ACLs, no one wants that, but we're confident the surface will be fine."
The Waratahs take on the Blues on Saturday night, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO. Buy tickets here.
TEAMS
IN: Israel Folau, Cam Clark
OUT: Nick Palmer, Alex Newsome
Waratahs to face the Blues
1. Tom Robertson
2. Damien Fitzpatrick
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Ned Hanigan
5. Rob Simmons
6. Will Miller
7. Michael Hooper
8. Michael Wells
9. Jake Gordon
10. Bernard Foley
11. Taqele Naiyaravoro
12. Kurtley Beale
13. Lalakai Foketi
14. Cam Clark
15. Israel Folau
Reserves
16. Hugh Roach
17. Harry Johnson-Holmes
18. Paddy Ryan
19. Tom Staniforth
20. Jed Holloway
21. Nick Phipps
22. Curtis Rona
23. Bryce Hegarty
Blues to face the Waratahs
1. Ross Wright
2. James Parsons
3. Sione Mafileo
4. Patrick Tuipulotu
5. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Dalton Papalii
8. Akira Ioane
9. Augustine Pulu
10. Stephen Perofeta
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Rieko Ioane
13. Orbyn Leger
14. Tumua Manu
15. Matt Duffie
Reserves
16. Matt Moulds
17. Pauliasi Manu
18. Mike Tamoaieta
19. Been Nee-Nee
20. Murphy Taramai
21. Jonathan Ruru
22. Dan Kirkpatrick
23. Terence Hepetema
