UPDATE: Players mightn't enjoy rotation strategies but Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson says workload management is the only way to ensure they are playing at their peak.

The Waratahs are resting captain Michael Hooper for Saturday's match against the Blues, after resting a trio of Test players against the Sunwolves, and Gibson said it was necessary to continue to rotate the group.

"No, they don't but sometimes players don't know what's best for them," he said.

"They're not going to play 16 games straight and expect to be at their best and that's what this is designed around, making sure that they're the best for the Waratahs and we're managing our player load well and then also they're at their best for Australia and that's the key thing in a World Cup year."

The Waratahs have yet to rest any of their tight five Wallabies but Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons and Ned Hanigan would certainly be counted among the players needing to sit out a game at some point.

Gibson said NSW simply had to prepare for the need to leave out at least one player a game for the much of the season.

"We've got nine games left - we know we've got to rest a player a match effectively from here on in and it's just balancing that when that comes for the players and what's best for our squad going into that game," he said.



Hooper has played literally every minute for the Waratahs in their opening six games of the season and with a bye to follow the Blues game, Gibson said it was a good chance to give the flanker a true break.

"We saw that as an opportunity heading into our bye that he gets two weeks so for us he's had a workload, played just about every minute of our last six games, so it's a good opportunity for him and he's going to be really firing going into the Rebels game coming off the bye," he said.

Will Miller returns from injury to start at openside in Hooper's place, alongside returning flanker Jack Dempsey and no. 8 Michael Wells.

Kurtley Beale will come off the bench with Karmichael Hunt and Adam Ashley-Cooper starting in the centres after Ashley-Cooper was rested last weekend.

Gibson said Beale's benching was not a sign of poor form, rather expecting a tough challenge from the Blues' big-bodied centres that would suit Hunt and Ashley-Cooper better.

"No, he hasn't been dropped. I've looked at Auckland and I look at it where they're strong. They've got some big boppers coming down that channel," he said.

"I've selected a combination in the middle which I believe can combat that and add some.

"And that's where Karmichael and Adam really excel in the defensive area and there's a role for Kurtley coming off the bench in providing that spark in attack."

Bernard Foley comes straight back into the team at 10 after his rest week with Mack Mason left out of the 23, and Foley will likely take the captaincy for the clash.

Foley's leadership will be critical in Hooper's absence and Gibson said he would handle the extra responsibility.

"He is our vice-captain. He's captained our team before when Hoops has been away so it's been seamless transition for him," he said.

"So it's a good opportunity for him to show what he can do both as a player and as a leader in this side."

While the Waratahs have kept to their resting policy, Blues star Rieko Ioane has used a loophole to keep his season going despite playing every game so far.

New Zealand's All Blacks players are not supposed to play six games in a row and it was expected Ioane would be forced to miss Saturday's game.

However, with the Blues having had a bye in the opening weeks, he still has one game up his sleeve and will start against NSW.

Gibson said he would be one of a number of threats they were looking at on Saturday.

"He's been one of their best performers all year. When he gets the ball, he's doing things with it," he said.

"He's one to watch, they've got a number of players who are like that so we know what we're in for."

The Waratahs take on the Blues in Auckland on Saturday April 6, kicking off at 7:35pm local, 5:35pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.

TEAM

Waratahs to face the Blues

1. Harry Johnson-Holmes

2. Damien Fitzpatrick

3. Sekope Kepu

4. Ned Hanigan

5. Rob Simmons

6. Jack Dempsey

7. Will Miller

8. Michael Wells

9. Nick Phipps

10. Bernard Foley

11. Alex Newsome

12. Karmichael Hunt

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper

14. Cam Clark

15. Israel Folau

Reserves

16. Andrew Tuala

17. Rory O'Connor

18. Chris Talakai

19. Tom Staniforth

20. Lachlan Swinton

21. Jake Gordon

22. Kurtley Beale

23. Lalakai Foketi

Blues to face Waratahs

1. Alex Hodgman

2. James Parsons

3. Sione Mafileo

4. Patrick Tuipulotu

5. Josh Goodhue

6. Tom Robinson

7. Blake Gibson

8. Akira Ioane

9. Jonathan Ruru

10. Otere Black

11. Rieko Ioane

12. Maa Nonu

13. TJ Faiane

14. Caleb Clarke

15. Melani Nanai

Reserves

16. Matt Moulds

17. Marcel Renata

18. Ofa Tuungafasi

19. Gerard Colwey-Tuiotu

20. Dalton Papalii

21. Sam Nock

22. Harry Plummer

23. Michael Collins