The NSW Waratahs are anxiously trying to treat a rare and "perplexing" knee injury that has sidelined backline ace Adam Ashley-Cooper indefinitely.
Ashley-Cooper was on Thursday scratched from Saturday night's interstate derby with the Queensland Reds as a precaution, but Waratahs assistant coach Daryl Gibson admitted the 104-Test veteran may require surgery.
Gibson said the nature of Ashley-Cooper's right knee injury had medical staff flummoxed.
"It started as a Baker's cyst and then it exploded and it's developed into something that's got the medical people a bit stumped," Gibson said.
"There's very few of this injury and what it's developed into so it's very perplexing.
"The unknown is we don't know how it will react to rehab or to strenuous exercise so we want to be very cautious at this early stage. We don't want to push him."
While carefully trying to rehabilitate Ashley-Cooper, Gibson said the Waratahs were seeking advice from all over the world.
"We're trying to take his scans to as many people to get a wide opinion," he said.
"There's not a lot of information about how to go forward, but that's the best way we think to go, and the very last resort is surgery."
A two-try hero of the Waratahs' drought-breaking grand final triumph over the Crusaders last year, Ashley-Cooper hasn't missed a Super Rugby game for two seasons.
"He's been an absolute workhorse for us and we're giving him the opportunity to get it right," Gibson said.
"But it's very difficult. When you get a guy who hasn't not fronted up for you for two years, it's very difficult to say no (to him)."
Ashley-Cooper's omission allows Matt Carraro his first start of the season at No.13 as the Waratahs look to replace the Wallabies star with a strong defensive centre.
Blockbusting winger Taqele Naiyaravoro has been relegated the bench in favour of Peter Betham despite scoring two tries in the Waratahs' last-start win over the Melbourne Rebels.
Prop Benn Robinson will break Waratahs legend Phil Waugh's record as NSW's most-capped player when he lines up for his 137th match for his state.
Halfback Nick Phipps said Robinson's milestone would undoubtedly lift the Waratahs, especially after a stirring pre-training speech about the prop on Thursday.
"Cheik took a little bit of time out of the meeting this morning to speak about Benn and how important he is to the club and how much he's given to this club," Phipps said.
"It's a pretty big occasion not only for him but also for us, who have the honour of running out there and playing with him this weekend."
The Waratahs return from a bye and face a Reds team smarting from their away loss to the Highlanders last weekend.
NSW Waratahs: Israel Folau, Peter Betham, Matt Carraro, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Jaques Potgieter, David Dennis (capt), Will Skelton, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Tolu Latu, Jeremy Tilse, Paddy Ryan, Sam Lousi, Mitchell Chapman, Stephen Hoiles, Brendan McKibbin, Jono Lance, Taqele Naiyaravoro.
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