The NSW Waratahs will play out their final home fixture of Vodafone Super Rugby AU this weekend, as they take on the Melbourne Rebels at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.
Rob Penney has named his final matchday 23 for the regular season, as his side press their claims for a Finals berth in a must-win clash.
It's a largely unchanged squad for Penney, who has continued with the core group of players that have featured over the majority of the competition to date.
Despite being given every opportunity to prove his fitness, Karmichael Hunt has been ruled out after being a late scratching ahead of the Waratahs trip to Canberra last weekend.
Tepai Moeroa has been named in his place, earning his first start in Super Rugby AU. After making his Waratahs debut last week in Canberra, Nick Malouf retains his spot on the bench alongside Ben Donaldson and Mitch Short.
Despite being initially named to comeback from an ankle injury via the reserves, Will Harris has been a late scratching with Hugh Sinclair taking his place in jersey 20.
NSW Waratahs Round 9 team announcement:
| No. | Position | Name |
| 1 | LOOSEHEAD PROP | TOM ROBERTSON |
| 2 | HOOKER | TOM HORTON |
| 3 | TIGHTHEAD PROP | HARRY JOHNSON-HOLMES |
| 4 | LEFT LOCK | NED HANIGAN |
| 5 | RIGHT LOCK | ROB SIMMONS (c) |
| 6 | LEFT FLANKER | LACHLAN SWINTON |
| 7 | RIGHT FLANKER | MICHAEL HOOPER |
| 8 | NUMBER EIGHT | JACK DEMPSEY |
| 9 | SCRUMHALF | JAKE GORDON |
| 10 | FLYHALF | WILL HARRISON |
| 11 | LEFT WING | ALEX NEWSOME (VC) |
| 12 | INSIDE CENTRE | TEPAI MOEROA |
| 13 | OUTSIDE CENTRE | JOEY WALTON |
| 14 | RIGHT WING | JAMES RAMM |
| 15 | FULLBACK | JACK MADDOCKS |
| Replacements: | ||
| 16. | RESERVE | ROBBIE ABEL |
| 17. | RESERVE | TETERA FAULKNER |
| 18. | RESERVE | ANGUS BELL |
| 19. | RESERVE | TOM STANIFORTH |
| 20. | RESERVE | HUGH SINCLAIR |
| 21. | RESERVE | MITCH SHORT |
| 22. | RESERVE | BEN DONALDSON |
| 23. | RESERVE | NICK MALOUF |
Vodafone Super Rugby AU - Round 9
Melbourne Rebels v NSW Waratahs
Saturday 29 August
Kick off: 7:10pm (local)
Leichhardt Oval
