NSW Waratahs coach Dan McKellar has backed the management around Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii as the star centre returns for Saturday's clash with the Western Force.
Suaalii has missed the past fortnight due to hamstring tightness and is set to return via the midfield alongside Joey Walton.
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McKellar stated he could've played last weekend in their must-win game against ACT Brumbies if it were a grand final, but believes the right call was made in the best interest of the Waratahs and the Wallabies.
"It's a collective decision with medical staff and it was the right decision to certainly not play him last week," he told the media.
"It would've been high risk and the advice I was given by people who are experts in that field was to give him another week."
McKellar said the focus was now on getting Suaalii quality minutes rather than saving him further for the July internationals, set for just his fourth start of the year.
"He's a Rugby player, and when he's fit to play Rugby, he plays," he said.
"I think 'Su' has been disappointed that he hasn't been able to play and stream games together across the last couple of seasons for the Waratahs but, it's the nature of the sport that we play.
"Hopefully off the back of a really good couple of weeks of training that he gets out there on Saturday night and, you know, just enjoys being back in the Waratahs jersey."
Suaalii is one of several returning stars for the Waratahs, with Pete Samu (knee) and Jake Gordon (illness) back as well.
Samu starts at number eight, while Gordon's return shifts Teddy Wilson back to the bench, who failed his HIA last week but was deemed not to have suffered a concussion.
As for the Force, they receive a huge boost with the return of flyhalf Ben Donaldson to play his old side.
Donaldson will get a chance to impress Wallabies selectors after overcoming a quad complaint that kept him out of their last two matches.
Outside centre George Bridge also comes into the fold, replacing Bayley Kuenzle.
FORCE (1-15): Harry Johnson-Holmes, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Misinale Epenisa, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Vailoni Ekuasi, Nathan Hastie, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, George Bridge, Zac Lomax, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Sef Fa'agase, Franco Molina, Will Harris, Agustin Moyano, Boston Fakafanua, Kurtley Beale
WARATAHS (1-15): Jack Barrett, Ioane Moananu, Dan Botha, Matt Philip (c), Miles Amatosero, Angus Scott-Young, Jamie Adamson, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Jack Bowen, Andrew Kellaway, Joey Walton, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Harry Potter, Max Jorgensen
Replacements: Oniti Finau, Isaac Kailea, Apolosi Ranawai, Ben Grant, Clem Halaholo, Teddy Wilson, Jack Debreczeni, Triston Reilly
