Long serving Test No.8 David Lyons will be amongst four snubbed Wallabies looking to prove a point when NSW come up against New Zealand Maori on Friday.

Lyons, fellow back rower Stephen Hoiles, centre Morgan Turinui and prop Matt Dunning were all named in the Waratahs team for the SCG fixture after they missed out on the 33-man Wallaby squad named on Monday.

"We've got some people with some things to prove and we'll be trying to put a good performance on the park," said Lyons who was named captain.

NSW coach Ewen McKenzie also expected the four men to fire given their omission from the national squad.

"It's great to have these guys back and I'm sure they'll be out to prove a point against extremely talented opposition," McKenzie said.

Of the overlooked quartet, 25-year-old Lyons was the most established with 40 Test caps to his name.

He was the 2004 Wallabies best and fairest player, but was rested from the 2005 spring tour to enable him to recover from a groin injury.

Lyons lost his NSW starting spot to Hoiles for the Waratahs in their last two Super games, but has been troubled by a disc problem in his back and didn't make the cut for the squad.

"Obviously I'm disappointed, I've got a few things to work on and get my body right and I'm sure when I get that right, I'll be looking to push my way back in," Lyons said.

"I've had a bad disc problem in my back and I haven't been able to do much training, so I'll get that right and I'll be looking to push my claims."

It's the first time Lyons will captain NSW in an official game, having only previously performed the task during trials.

Despite losing 11 men to the Wallaby squad and several other players to the Australian under 21 team, NSW will still field a reasonably experienced team on Friday.

All the run-on team have been capped by NSW, with only four of the starters yet to play at Super level.

"The calibre of team playing this week against the Maoris is a good example of the depth we do have," Lyons said.

NSW team: Peter Hewat, Winston Mafi, Ben Jacobs, Morgan Turinui, Chris Siale, Daniel Halangahu, Brett Sheehan, David Lyons (captain), Stephen Hoiles, James Campbell, Dean Mumm, Will Caldwell, Aaron Broughton-Rouse, Al Manning, Matt Dunning. Res: Josh Mann-Rea, Matt Skillecorn, Ben Hand, Tom Egan, Dave Rimmer, Tom Carter, Tim Wright, Tim McGann, Clint Eadie.

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