NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson is finally set to unleash a backline combination he's been hankering to field in Friday night's Super Rugby hosting of the Kings.
Gibson has challenged his struggling side to attack more and has decided to ditch the box kick strategy.
Following their first bye, the Tahs are fourth in the Australian conference, nine points behind the leading Brumbies, with Gibson declaring it was still very open.
With Rob Horne back from hamstring soreness and named at outside centre for Friday's home game with the Kings, Israel Folau has been shifted to fullback.
"It's a (backline) combination that we've been wanting to put out for a while, but been limited through injury and opportunity," Gibson said.
"It's certainly a combination that going into the season was one that we looked at and we've got an opportunity now to play that."
Gibson said he had used the bye week to reflect on the Waratahs' defensive woes, with his side leaking an average of 34 points a game.
The box kick has been sacrificed after it was used extensively in losses to the Crusaders and Hurricanes in the two games before their bye.
'We were not getting a contest, not getting a good spread defensively and putting ourselves under more pressure," Gibson said.
"So (we're going to) shelve the box kick for a while, put it in our back pocket.
"We've tweaked a few things changed our strategy, particularly our kicking strategy.
"We feel that change will help our defence and put us in situations where we're not putting ourselves under pressure."
He believed the change would also fix the slow starts that have plagued the Waratahs across their past three games.
Wallabies lock Dean Mumm, who started each of the Tahs' seven previous games this season, was dropped to the bench, with Dave McDuling getting just his second run-on appearance of the campaign.
Gibson stressed it was a case of management rather than demotion for Mumm.
"Dave's been impressive when he's come on, so we've rewarded him for that performance and given Dean a spell," he said.
Tom Robertson returns from injury to replace suspended fellow Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu.
Prop Angus Ta'avao is posed to make a return off the bench after being sidelined for six months with a broken leg.
Winger-fullback Andrew Kellaway, who was on the bench for the Tahs' last game, will be out for four to six weeks after suffering a small fracture near his throat in a club game last weekend.
Waratahs: Israel Folau, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Rob Horne, David Horwitz, Cam Clark, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon, Michael Wells, Michael Hooper (capt), Ned Hanigan, Will Skelton, David McDuling, Tom Robertson, Tolu Latu, Paddy Ryan. Replacements: Hugh Roach, David Lolohea, Dean Mumm, Jed Holloway, Nick Phipps, Bryce Hegarty, Harry Jones.
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