Karmichael Hunt and Adam Ashley‑Cooper are confirmed Waratahs starters with Kurtley Beale the first Wallaby rested from Super Rugby ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Beale played 31 games last year, the most of any Australian player, and featured in almost every minute of those outings at both Super Rugby and Test level.
The Waratahs will also be boosted by the round one returns of Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley and Israel Folau who all sat out the team's preseason trials.
Jack Dempsey is set to start at no. 8 for the first time in Super Rugby with Ned Hanigan at blindside flanker for the Brookvale Oval clash.
The Super Rugby competition will kick off at 6.35pm tomorrow with the Chiefs taking on the Highlanders in Waikato while the Brumbies will meet the Rebels at 8.45pm.
On Saturday, the Blues will meet the Crusaders at 6.35pm at Eden Park while the Waratahs will face the Hurricanes at 8.45pm.
The Sunwolves also face the Sharks at 10.55pm Saturday.
The Bulls meet the Stormers at 3.15am Sunday while the Lions face the Jaguares at 9.40am Sunday.
[Source: Rugby.com.au]
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