Nick Phipps will play starting nine for the first time this season, as the Waratahs look to upset the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Phipps has had a frustrating year, with a calf injury delaying his start to the season and dealing with an off-field controversy in recent weeks, but the Wallabies backup showed spark when he came off the bench against the Blues.
With just a month left until the Wallabies' opening June Series Test against Ireland, Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson said he wanted to give Phipps the chance to push his case for that and show his quality for the Waratahs.
"I decided a couple of games ago I'm going to rotate my two halfbacks (Phipps and Jake Gordon) through this New Zealand period, to give them both an opportunity to get the best out of both of them for those games," he said.
"Both are really pressing for national honours and (I) want to give both those opportunities.
"Nick's such a competitor and I thin the chances he's been given, he comes on, you can see the speed at which he wants to play the game," he said.
"Also, looking at those fixtures and trying to match both their skill sets to their game.s I want to give both the opportunity to be at their best and put a performance in for the Waratahs but also In mind for higher honours.
The 29-year-old's start means Jake Gordon is on the bench, after starting every game so far this season.
Curtis Rona has also been elevated into the starting team, with Lalakai Foketi pushed onto the pine.
Rookie prop Shambeckler Vui will have his second opportunity of the season, coming off the bench ahead of Paddy Ryan.
The Waratahs travel to Christchurch on Thursday night, ahead of Saturday's clash with the Crusaders, looking to snap Australia's 38-game losing streak against Kiwi Super Rugby side.s
"I believe we're more competitive and we're right there in terms of breaking through and becoming that team," he said.
"All year, we've bemoaned the fact around our ball control and we continue to lead the stats with turnovers and against a team who are very good at breakdown.
"So, a lot of our improvement areas is around that, making sure that because we want to play positive rugby, we can make errors and trying to reduce errors."
NSW takes on the Crusaders on Saturday night, kicking off at 5:15pm local, 3:15pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS.
TEAM
IN: Shambeckler Vui
OUT: Paddy Ryan
Waratahs to face the Crusaders
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. Nick Phipps
10. Bernard Foley
11. Taqele Naiyaravoro
12. Kurtley Beale
13. Curtis Rona
14. Cam Clark
15. Israel Folau
Reserves
16. Hugh Roach
17. Harry Johnson-Holmes
18. Shambeckler Vui
19. Tom Staniforth
20. Jed Holloway
21. Jake Gordon
22. Lalakai Foketi
23. Bryce Hegarty
Crusaders to face the Waratahs
1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Michael Alaalatoa
4. Scott Barrett
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Pete Samu
7. Matt Todd
8. Jordan Taufua
9. Bryn Hall
10. Richie Mounga
11. Manasa Mataele
12. Tim Bateman
13. Jack Goodhue
14. Seta Tamanivalu
15. George Bridge
Reserves
16. Andrew Makalio
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Donald Brighouse
19. Mitchell Dunsheo
20. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
21. Mitchell Drummond
22. Mitchell Hunt
23. Braydon Ennor
