Waratahs v Highlanders: Super Rugby match preview

Israel Folau congratulates Taqele Naiyaravoro as he celebrates a try

Kurtley Beale is a late omission from the Waratahs side named for their Super Rugby semi-final clash with the Highlanders.

Beale is a big loss to the Australian conference winners as they seek to defend their title against one of the more attacking outfits in the competition.

Beale has been one of the top three performers in the Waratahs side this season in terms of carries, metres gained and try assists, and will be sorely missed when the home side are in possession on Saturday.

The Waratahs still have playmaker Israel Folau to call upon, and he lines up in the No 15 jersey for the home side. Folau will be looking to link with wingers Taqele Naiyaravoro and Rob Horne.

Wallaby veteran Adam Ashely-Cooper forms a midfield pairing with Beale's replacement, Matt Carraro, while Nick Pipps and Bernard Foley retain their half-back places.

The imposing Will Skelton and skipper David Dennis partner in second row, and the two will be crucial in negating the momentum of a dogged Highlanders pack in Sydney.

In Jacques Potgieter and No 8 Wycliff Palu there are two physical elements to the Waratahs' back row, while the energetic Michael Hooper will look to make a nuisance of himself in the loose exchanges.

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Naholo and Smith have formed a clinical partnership in breaking play

The Highlanders have also made just one change for the must-win game, with James Lentjes coming into the side at openside to replace the injured Dan Pryor.

The Otago-based side are fortunate to have a fully fit set of wings in Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne, who have touched down a total of 17 times this season, while the outside backs are completed by the attacking threat of All Black Ben Smith.

Lima Sopoaga plays fly-half for the visitors while scrum-half Aaron Smith, whose interplay with Naholo proved too much for the Chiefs to cope with in their play-off last week, retains his place in the side.

The Highlanders forwards, on paper, appear to have their work cut out for them. The Waratahs pack boasts eight internationals while their counterparts have none, but the visiting New Zealanders have formed a reputation as a tight-knit unit, capable of wearing teams down as the game wears on.

The Highlanders are co-captained by Ben Smith and Nasi Manu, who will be playing their 104th and 80th games respectively.

NSW Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Matt Carraro, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 1 Benn Robinson, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Will Skelton, 5 David Dennis (c), 6 Jacques Potgieter, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Wycliff Palu.

Replacements: 16 Jeremy Tilse, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Mitchell Chapman, 19 Stephen Hoiles, 20 Patrick McCutcheon, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Peter Betham.

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 1 Brendon Edmonds, 2 Liam Coltman, 3 Josh Hohneck, 4 Alex Ainley, 5 Mark Reddish, 6 Elliot Dixon, 7 James Lentjes, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain).

Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Joe Wheeler, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Trent Renata, 23 Shaun Treeby.