Waratahs v Highlanders: Teams

Phil Waugh will lead out the Waratahs against the Highlanders on Friday as the Australia flanker celebrates his 100th Super Rugby match.

No.8 Wycliff Palu will also be making his 50th appearances as the Waratahs strive for their third straight victory to start the year, and their ninth victory in a row at home.

While head coach Chris Hickey has maintained the 22-man squad which took on the Chiefs last Friday, there are two changes to the starting XV.

Hooker Adam Freier has been elevated to the starting line-up with Tatafu Polota-Nau set to make an impact from the bench, while Tom Carter gets his first chance in the number 12 jersey in place of Timana Tahu.

"At this stage of the season it's pretty important to manage your squad," said Hickey.

"We had a short turnaround from the Hurricanes to the Chiefs match, so you have to look at the workload on all the players.

"While you keep your focus on the next game, you do need to look forward at the coming schedule and make sure you manage the squad as a whole to put the team in the best position for the whole campaign.

"Adam and Tatafu each offer something slightly different at hooker, as do Tom and Timana in the centres."

Woes

The Highlanders are still without two All Blacks ahead of their clash with New South Wales Waratahs on Friday in Sydney.

Captain Jimmy Cowan will miss his second game in succession due to an elbow injury he suffered in his side's 31-33 loss to the Brumbies in round one.

Adding to the Highlanders' woes, prop Jamie Mackintosh has been ruled out once more after damaging a knee in the same match.

Fetu'u Vainikolo has been named on the left wing after serving a one-match suspension handed down by his club for throwing a drink over a woman in a Dunedin bar last week.

Kendrick Lynn has been dropped to the reserves to make way for Vainikolo.

The match looms as an uphill battle for the luckless Highlanders, who face a Waratahs outfit that are undefeated in 2009, and did not lose a game at home in 2008.

Waratahs: 15 Sam Norton-Knight, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Ben Mowen, 5 Will Caldwell , 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Adam Freier, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Dan Palmer, 18 Chris Thomson, 19 Scott Fava, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Daniel Halangahu, 22 Timana Tahu.

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark (c), 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Sean Romans, 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Anthony Perenise, 18 George Naoupu, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Mat Berquist, 22 Kendrick Lynn.