NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has named an inexperienced line-up for his side's clash with the Brumbies in Mudgee on Saturday and said competition for spots will be fierce in scorching temperatures.
Prop Tom Robertson is the only player in the Waratahs starting XV who represented the Wallabies in 2016, with most of Gibson's stars set to be rested after just three weeks back in training since their end-of-year break.
"After assessing where they were at in terms of how they showed up and in timelines of fitness, we decided it was better to hold them a bit longer in terms of their preparations," Gibson said. "The purpose of this year's trial is to give a reward to the players who have been preparing pre-Christmas."
Meanwhile, the Brumbies have named Wallabies Rory Arnold, Scott Fardy and Tevita Kuridrani in what will be their first competitive football for the year.
The game will be split into three 30-minute blocks to account for the expected 40-degree temperatures. Gibson has named four extra players outside the usual match-day 23 who will be able to get some much-needed game time.
Hugh Roach will start at hooker over Tolu Latu and Damien Fitzpatrick (both on the bench) in a position Gibson said would be one of the most hotly contested since the departure of Tatafu Polota-Nau to the Western Force.
"This week's trial is ideal to establish who is really putting their hand up," Gibson said. "It's pretty important given the short preparation time the teams have had this year.
"I think not everyone's having two trials with the [Brisbane] Tens coming up next weekend. It's put a squeeze on preparations and for both teams we've got to that point where we want to have a game. We've done a lot of training."
Mack Mason, 21, will wear the No.10 jersey in a bid to edge ahead of fellow five-eighth options Bryce Hegarty – named at fullback for this game – and Andrew Deegan, should incumbent playmaker Bernard Foley pick up an injury during the season.
Blindside breakaway Jack Dempsey has been named as captain for the match. Gibson said he and the Waratahs fullback from last year, Andrew Kellaway, had benefited from their inclusion as development players on the Wallabies spring tour.
"They've grown immensely, particularly around the training level and the intensity," Gibson said. "They've had a taste of what is required at international level and now the challenge for them is to recreate that level of intensity every day, every session."
Will Skelton won't play on Saturday despite joining the Waratahs this week after a stint with Saracens in the English Premiership, while Taqele Naiyaravoro is expected to join training on Monday following his commitments in Japan.
The Waratahs have spent the week running coaching clinics in Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo and Mudgee in a push to grow the game in country NSW.
Waratahs team to face ACT Brumbies in trial match
1. Tom Robertson
2. Hugh Roach
3. David Lolohea
4. Ned Hanigan
5. Senio Toleafoa
6. Jack Dempsey
7. Brad Wilkin
8. Michael Wells
9. Jake Gordon
10. Mack Mason
11. Harry Jones
12. David Horwitz
13. Irae Simone
14. Reece Robinson
15. Bryce Hegarty
16. Tolu Latu
17. Damien Fitzpatrick
18. Paddy Ryan
19. Sam Needs
20. David McDuling
21. Matt Lucas
22. Andrew Deegan
23. Andrew Kellaway
27. Ryan McCauley
28. Jamason Schultz
30. Con Foley
31. Maclean Jones
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