Rob Horne will start at inside centre in his 100th game for NSW when the Waratahs face the Chiefs on Friday after coach Daryl Gibson cracked the whip on youngster David Horwitz for a below par showing against the Crusaders.
Gibson has made four changes to the team that was outclassed against the then table-topping Crusaders outfit, with wingers Zac Guildford and Matt Carraro making returns to the starting XV, while Wycliff Palu replaces the injured Jed Holloway at No.8.
Kurtley Beale's season-ending knee injury and lucrative deal with English club Wasps prompted Gibson to quickly search for a long-term replacement at inside centre.
Horwitz was given the nod last week due to the fact he has played there at various points this season, but his omission for this upcoming fixture is a sign Gibson is more concerned about results than blooding for next year.
"Dave was OK. It was a difficult day for a lot of people," was Gibson's response when asked about Horwitz's Crusaders performance.
The 21-year-old has been named on the bench alongside Reece Robinson, who after eight consecutive games on the wing has been dropped for Guildford.
Against his old club, Guildford looked threatening whenever he touched the ball and it was his try within minutes of being on the field that might have been the deciding factor when Gibson finalised his last XV before the June Test series window.
"Guildford came on and showed some spark," Gibson said. "Three times he touched the ball and stuff happened around him."
Robinson has been far from poor this season; scoring three tries in nine appearances – trailing only Israel Folau, Holloway and Nick Phipps among a string of Waratahs stars – but Gibson has decided to clean out the closet before a crucial game against the Chiefs.
It's an even bigger blow for Robinson given Gibson has opted to bring in another winger in Carraro to fill the hole where Horne has been since the Waratahs took on the Force in late April.
Horne will become the Waratahs third inside centre this year but it is a position he has gained experience at before.
In recent weeks Gibson has said he planned on continuing to pick Horne on the wing because he thought he was a genuine chance of getting a Wallabies starting jersey in that position.
Meanwhile, a recurring shoulder injury to Holloway means the ever-reliable Palu will come back into the starting No.8 jersey, putting an end to any speculation of a potential spot for Holloway in Michael Cheika's extended Wallabies squad that will be named this week.
Palu, who injured himself at last year's Rugby World Cup, could also be an outside chance of getting another start as back-up to David Pocock, who looks likely to go around again at No.8 like he did at the back end of last year.
Jack Dempsey also makes his return from injury for the first time since the Stormers game in Cape Town.
The Waratahs' usual No.6 will instead come off the bench, meaning Dean Mumm will stay at blindside in what will be another huge test for the NSW pack against the Chiefs, who overtook the Crusaders on the weekend with a 36-15 bonus-point win over the Melbourne Rebels.
Will Skelton will also run out for his 50th Super Rugby cap after debuting against the Stormers in Sydney in 2013.
