The NSW Waratahs are hoping a touch of razzle dazzle and a splash of brash will unsettle the undefeated Crusaders in Sunday's Super Rugby showdown at Allianz Stadium.
Coach Daryl Gibson has turned to sevens convert Cam Clark and untried youngster Mack Mason after Wallabies stars Bernard Foley and Rob Horne were ruled out on Friday.
Gibson had no hesitation handing Clark his first starting role and Mason his Super Rugby debut against the competition leaders, with 21-year-old Mason to wear Foley's No.10 as the star playmaker battles a resumption of post-concussion symptoms.
Cairns-born five eighth Mason, 21, helped the Australian under-20s to a rare win over New Zealand last year following his return from a league stint with Melbourne Storm.
"Mack's a really calm, cool-headed young kid. He's been working away really well and he's really earnt an opportunity to start for us," Gibson said.
"He's been one of the top performers for the Australian under-20s and he's had that experience down with the Storm, so he's certainly had a widened and varied pathway to us and I'm really looking forward to seeing him go on Sunday."
Gibson, a former All Blacks centre who himself won multiple titles with the Crusaders, senses Mason won't be intimidated taking on the giants from Christchurch.
"He takes everything in his stride and that's probably the quality that I really like in him," Gibson said.
"He's certainly not over-rawed in bossing the game and telling senior pros exactly where they need to be.
"That's a neat quality to have in somebody so young and I think he's got an excellent young skill set and it'll be exciting to see him go."
Clark, a Rio Olympian in sevens will start at fullback with Israel Folau reverting to outside centre - the position he filled for the Tahs' opening four games before a fullback stint against the Melbourne Rebels last week - as Horne nurses a hamstring strain.
"Cam's been one of those guys who's been toiling away in the background. We've been really impressed with his performances coming off the bench. He's done well," Gibson said.
"Again, it's an opportunity for a young guy to really nail down a position and see what he can do at this level."
The coach hopes the 24-year-old's dynamism could blow the game open in what shapes as a wet and wild encounter.
"He brings a lot of those sevens skills. He's excellent in the air, very good on the ground in terms of his contact skills, which you need to be in sevens," Gibson said.
"And probably what he's really got is an excellent evasive game. He's very strong in the carry and certainly won't shy away in the contact zone."
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