Waratahs still uncertain over Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's best position

There has been no directive from above to shift Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the centres as the NSW Waratahs star prepares to wear the No.13 for a second-straight week.

Suaalii was deployed at fullback or wing for all but one Super Rugby Pacific game in his debut season, before spending the Wallabies’ 15-Test campaign camped in the midfield.

But the code-hopper was impressive at outside centre, particularly defensively, in the Waratahs’ comprehensive defeat of the Queensland Reds in last Friday’s season opener and has retained the role to face Fijian Drua in round two.

Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, who has again left Wallabies back Andrew Kellaway out of the 23 altogether, said there wasn’t an ulterior motive to the positional shift.

“I haven’t had any discussions around position, as I said last year, (Wallabies coach) Joe Schmidt didn’t care where he played,” he said of Suaalii.

“We just thought that (fullback) was a position, 12 months ago, that really suited him in his first year in rugby.

“He’s played a lot of 13 since, so that’s where he’s picked for this week and … that’s where we’re seeing him at the moment, but we’ll keep an open mind.”

McKellar said Kellaway had returned from Test duties “a bit underdone” with a niggling knee injury and would need to fight for selection.

Rugby sevens recruit and pinpoint left-footer Sid Harvey is another unlucky omission from the side, with James Hendren retained at fullback.

Crusaders recruit Ioane Moananu has come onto the bench for concussed hooker Folau Faingaa in the only change.

“No player owns the jersey … there’s always going to be competition in good teams, and our team’s no different,” McKellar said.

“Competition drives everyone to be better, and we’re certainly seeing that.”

The Drua, who threatened a boilover in a 29-24 loss in the corresponding fixture last season, have overhauled their squad after an opening-round loss to Moana Pasifika in Lautoka.

Wallabies scrumhalf Issak Fines-Leleiwasa has been pushed to the bench, with co-captain Frank Lomani to start in the No.9 in a new halves partnership with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula.

The Brumbies, fresh off a big win over the Western Force, will fly to Christchurch to face the defending champion Crusaders on Sunday without Test lock Nick Frost.

Coach Stephen Larkham said the performances of his forwards meant there was no need to rush Frost back.

Prop James Slipper will play his 200th Super Rugby game, putting him within touching distance of the competition’s all-time games record holder Wyatt Crockett (202).

Darcy Swain will return to the Western Force starting line-up for Saturday’s clash with the Blues in Joondalup, north of Perth.

The 17-cap Wallabies second-rower’s injection will partly offset the loss of fellow Test talent Nick Champion de Crespigny, who is unavailable due to a knee injury sustained against the Brumbies.

Swain’s addition sees captain Jeremy Williams shuffle into the back row at blindside flanker.

The Reds, nursing an already-swollen injury ward, have a second-round bye.