NSW will give skipper Phil Waugh until game day to prove his fitness for the top-of-the-table Super 14 rugby clash with a Crusaders outfit including veteran lock Chris Jack.

While No.8 Wycliff Palu was cleared to play in the Christchurch showdown after training on Thursday, skipper and openside flanker Waugh was bracketed with youngster Chris Alcock, who made his Super debut in the skipper's absence last week.

NSW coach Chris Hickey made one voluntary change to his back row, shifting Ben Mowen from No.8 to blindside flanker with Dave Dennis moving from the latter position to the bench.

"We're very confident Cliffy will be right for the match, but with Waughy the extra 48 hours is important," Hickey told AAP.

The vast figure of All Blacks lock Jack is set to loom large over the Waratahs once again.

Jack, who returned to the Crusaders this year after stints for English club Saracens and South Africa's Western Province, has been awarded his first Super start of this season.

Hickey wasn't surprised by Jack's promotion to the starting line-up.

"I just think that with these sort of games the scrum and lineout is very important and I'm not surprised they've opted for a combination of Chris Jack and Brad Thorne," Hickey said.

Waratahs five-eighth and first-choice goal kicker Daniel Halangahu didn't train on Thursday due to a hip flexor niggle, but Hickey was confident the in-form pivot would play.

"He could've trained today, but we ran the risk of irritating the hip flexor," said Hickey, who will probably decide on Friday night whether Halangahu or Berrick Barnes will handle the goal-kicking duties.

Jack's inclusion and the selection of halfback Kahn Fotuali'i for the concussed Andy Ellis represent the only changes to the team held to a draw by the Hurricanes last weekend.

Jack, 31, is one of only two players, along with Richie McCaw, who played in the Crusaders' unforgettable 96-19 flogging of the Waratahs in Christchurch eight years ago.

The Waratahs will face a near-full strength Crusaders outfit with Ellis and Corey Flynn (ankle) the only players unavailable due to injury.

NSW and Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess said his team were very excited at the challenge of trying to defeat the Crusaders in their own lair, but stressed they weren't daunted by the task.

"You can't harbour those thoughts going into the match, you focus on what you need to do," Burgess told reporters.

Hickey added his side wanted to "write our own history on Saturday night".

Waratahs squad to play the Crusaders:

Sosene Anesi, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Tom Carter, Daniel Halangahu, Josh Holmes, Rob Horne, Drew Mitchell, Lachie Turner. Chris Alcock, Al Baxter, Will Caldwell, Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Damien Fitzpatrick, Sekope Kepu, Locky McCaffrey, Ben Mowen, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Phil Waugh.

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