John Folau will have a simple job if he comes off the bench for his Waratahs debut on Friday night after being named for a potential debut on the eve of the Sunwolves clash.
Starting winger Curtis Rona was ruled out with a groin injury he suffered in training this week, forcing a reshuffle to the 23, with Folau coming into the group for the first time in Super Rugby.
Alex Newsome will start on the wing in place of Rona, opening the door for the younger Folau to join the matchday squad.
Folau, Israel's younger brother, has only been in rugby full-time since late last year, when he signed with the Sydney Rays in the NRC.
The 24-year-old had an injury-marred NRC campaign but showed enough for Daryl Gibson to hand him an EPS contract for 2019.
Attack coach Chris Whitaker, who also coached Folau in the NRC last year, said the last-minute call up would be a good thing for the potential debutant.
"He probably doesn't have the build up and the nerves because he's coming in late but I think it'll be good for him because he'll just switch straight back into it and get on the field and enjoy it," he said.
"Sometimes, he's got a tendency to overthink but he's just a natural player. I think he's just got to back himself and his instincts will just kick in.
"(The message will be) Don't think too much and just play."
Folau will have a handy support mechanism in older brother Israel, should he make it on in Friday night's game.
"They run at each other and they gee each other up a fair bit, so it's good," he said.
"I dare say, Izzy will look after him on the field and will show him the ropes."
Whitaker said Rona's withdrawal was just a precautionary one, with the winger likely to be back in the mix next week.
"He pulled up sore at training the other day so they pulled him out and it's one of those things," he said.
"You'd probably lean on the precautionary side of things with the squad we've got and the depth we've got, we're lucky to bring in the likes of Johnny Folau and Alex Newsome who'll start so we're quite lucky there."
Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson named his initial team on Wednesday, resting Bernard Foley, Jack Dempsey and Adam Ashley-Cooper for the clash, with Mack Mason earning just his second start at 10.
The Waratahs take on the Sunwolves on Friday March 29 at McDonald Jones Stadium, kicking off at 7:45pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com,au RADIO.
TEAM
Waratahs to face Sunwolves
1. Harry Johnson-Holmes
2. Damien Fitzpatrick
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Ned Hanigan
5. Rob Simmons
6. Lachlan Swinton
7. Michael Hooper
8. Michael Wells
9. Nick Phipps
10. Mack Mason
11. Alex Newsome
12. Kurtley Beale
13. Karmichael Hunt
14. Cam Clark
15. Israel Folau
Reserves
16. Andrew Tuala
17. Rory O’Connor
18. Chris Talakai
19. Ryan Mccauley
20. Tom Staniforth
21. Jake Gordon
22. Lalakai Foketi
23. John Folau
