The NSW Waratahs are eager to get Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii back on the park as they face a must-win match against the Western Force in Sydney
Suaalii will start at outside centre on Friday for the first time since Round Two, following a hamstring injury that has plagued him all season.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
The Wallaby picked up the issue during the warm-up against the Hurricanes, with coach Dan McKellar excited to get his superstar back on the field.
“He's had a good stint in rehab, he's in superb condition, so the S&C and the physio staff have done a great job with making sure that he returns ready to perform and not just ready to play," he told reporters.
“He trained really well, we won't put too much pressure on him. I doubt that will come from others but I just want him to go out there and do his job and hopefully get plenty of ball and plenty of touches and enjoy being back on the field.”
It set up Suaalii with a reunion with former teammate Zac Lomax, with the two potentially coming head-to-head in the midfield after Western Force coach Simon Cron hinted at mirroring the move Suaalii has made.
Lomax has once again been named on the wing, where he starred for the Force on his starting debut against the Crusaders.
Cron has made one change in the form of inside centre Hamish Stewart, who swaps with Kurtley Beale.
“We're happy with where they are, and there's a little bit around cohesion. We've been working on Zac at 13 as well as wing and just trying to work at different positions," Cron said before leaving for Sydney.
“...I think it's a little bit of time and settle. I think for us it's about looking at can he attack at 13 and defend on the wing or defend at 13 and attack on the wing."
McKellar believes the battle of the converts won't be a distraction for either as the teams look to keep their finals hopes alive.
“It's great for the game. Zac's an exceptional footballer, he’s had a very good career in the NRL and it's great that he's now playing rugby union," he believes.
“I think his skill set suits the game, and to get a match-up between him and Joseph, how often they actually come face to face is probably rare.
“It's good for the fans and certainly the media to get excited by and it just builds that little bit more interest. That’s what we want.”
In other changes, Lawson Creighton starts at flyhalf, while Apolosi Ranawai is in line for his debut off the bench after replacing the suspended Dan Botha.
WARATAHS (1-15): Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins, Siosifa Amone, Matt Philip (c), Angus Blyth, Angus Scott-Young, Charlie Gamble, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Lawson Creighton, Sid Harvey, Joey Walton, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Andrew Kellaway, Max Jorgensen
Replacements: Folau Fainga'a, Isaac Kailea, Apolosi Ranawai, Miles Amatosero, Jamie Adamson, Teddy Wilson, Jack Debreczeni, Triston Reilly
FORCE (1-15): Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Misinale Epenisa, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Henry Robertson, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, George Bridge, Zac Lomax, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Nic Dolly, Sef Fa’agase, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Franco Molina, Will Harris, Nathan Hastie, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale
