NSW Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson has named a new look backline to face the Blues at Brookvale Oval on Saturday evening.

Israel Folau will start at fullback in his return from injury, with Lalakai Foketi and Cam Clark also set to return to the starting side.

In the forwards, Will Miller will play alongside Michael Hooper in the Waratahs back row for the side’s first match against a New Zealand team this year.

“We are entering a really competitive phase of our year and I really want to share that around and give guys opportunities to contribute,” Gibson said.

“We’ve kept largely the same team, been very fortunate with injuries this season and I don’t want guys to be disheartened because they’re not getting a run.

“I’m making a real strong commitment to them that things are going to be different over the next few weeks.”

Coming off the bye, the conference topping Waratahs will start as favourites against the struggling Blues, but Gibson said he still expected a difficult challenge.

“I’m not buying into that rubbish,” he said.

“Everyone’s got their challenges, the Blues are going through theirs.

“I look at us, we’re coming off a belting, 29-nil, we’re still working out how that happened, learning the lessons from that and still seething from it.

“We want to make sure we respond well and we’ll get that opportunity this week.”

NSW Waratahs team to face the Blues

1. Tom Robertson

2. Damien Fitzpatrick

3. Sekope Kepu

4. Ned Hanigan

5. Rob Simmons

6. Will Miller

7. Michael Hooper

8. Michael Wells

9. Jake Gordon

10. Bernard Foley

11. Taqele Naiyaravoro

12. Kurtley Beale

13. Lalakai Foketi

14. Cam Clark

15. Israel Folau

Reserves

16. Hugh Roach

17. Harry Johnson-Holmes

18. Paddy Ryan

19. Tom Staniforth

20. Jed Holloway

21. Nick Phipps

22. Curtis Rona

23. Bryce Hegarty