STAR centre Reece Hodge says the Rebels won’t change their aggressive defensive tactics despite the Waratahs shifting Israel Folau to the wing and openly admitting they plan to kick to him in behind the fast-moving Melbourne line.

Folau’s shift to the wing for the first time in five years for NSW was the shock change in a re-shuffled Waratah team to meet the Rebels on Sunday at Allianz Stadium.

Bryce Hegarty was rewarded for his form off the bench in the opening three rounds by taking over the no.15 jersey.

media_camera Israel Folau has been shifted to the wing

Folau has moved to the wing in the final quarter of the first three rounds and Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson said the decision to start Hegarty was to get more from that successful combination.

But a few days after Folau admitted he would like more cross kicks to come his way, the coach also admitted the Tahs were “yet to realise potential around his aerial play” and would do so this weekend.

The Waratahs successfully used short kicks to counter a fast-rushing Melbourne defence in their trial win last month.

“Bryce has been excellent coming off the bench in the last three games and we want to see more from him, and also there is a tactical element to putting Israel on the wing, around we feel his aerial ability and the ability to kick into that space that the Rebels leave is something we want to look at in this game,” Gibson said.

Coaches rarely foreshadow tactics before a game and while it may be a moot point given Folau is unstoppable in the air anyway, Gibson’s kicking revelations may have been a strategy in themselves to get the Rebels to slow up their defensive line.

Not happening, said Hodge.

“We’re not going to change too much to be honest,” Hodge said.

media_camera Reece Hodge says the Rebels are ready for Israel Folau’s switch.

“All week we have been preparing for their short kicking game, which they are obviously very adept at with “Nard” (Bernard Foley) and KB (Kurtley Beale) and now Bryce as well.

“We have definitely done our homework there. But it’s not going to change our defence, in terms of system and in terms of what we’ve done over the first few weeks. We back ourselves.

“Izzy is a threat no matter where is on the field, and I am sure they’re going to try and get him the ball as much he can on the wing.

“But I back Marika and Joey Mad Dog (Jack) Maddocks to contain him, whichever side they put him on.”

Folau last played wing in rugby for the Wallabies against the Barbarians in Sydney, and prior to that, not since 2013.

But Gibson said he was looking to get more from a Folau positional shift than just a good catcher on the end of the line. Folau has in the past been very effective running inside channels off the playmakers.

“There is an open licence for him. We see some real opportunity for him to get himself in and around Beale and Foley,” Gibson said.

media_camera Rob Simmons is back to boost the Waratahs playing stocks.

The Waratahs’ forward pack will be bolstered with Sekope Kepu and Rob Simmons returning from injury, and Ned Hanigan cleared of a shoulder injury.

Halfback remains a concern, though, with Jake Gordon (concussion) joining Nick Phipps (calf) on the sideline and Mitch Short called up for a miracle run-on debut.

Just last week Short, 22, flew home from Argentina with a feared ACL injury, but scans cleared him of major damage.

Eastwood journeyman Mick Snowden, who was with the Rebels last year, has come onto the Waratahs bench.

With temperatures of 35-plus degrees forecast on Sunday, both sides will be in for a tough afternoon and Gibson hopes his side’s fitness will be an asset as they seek to run the bigger Rebels around.

“We are a smaller pack, mobile and we have purposefully trained them to be fit for these types of encounters, so we are looking forward to it,” Gibson said.

The Rebels recalled two Wallabies to their starting side in captain Adam Coleman and winger Marika Koroibete, but also have the depth to bench a third Test player, with Sefa Naivalu moving back to the pine.

Hodge said the Rebels were aware the Waratahs would be keen to make amends after a “disappointing” loss in Argentina, and that they wouldn’t play two bad games in a row.