A knee injury has ruled Wallabies centre Adam Ashley-Cooper out of the NSW Waratahs’ Super rugby clash with traditional rivals Queensland on Saturday night.

Ashley-Cooper’s omission allows Matt Carraro to play his first starting role of the season at outside centre for the defending champions in the Suncorp Stadium match.

Blockbusting winger Taqele Naiyaravoro has been relegated the bench in favour of Peter Betham despite scoring two tries in the Waratahs last-start win over the Melbourne Rebels.

The Waratahs return from a bye and face a Reds team smarting from their away loss to the Highlanders last weekend.

NSW Waratahs: Israel Folau, Peter Betham, Matt Carraro, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Jaques Potgieter, David Dennis (capt), Will Skelton, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Res: Tolu Latu, Jeremy Tilse, Paddy Ryan, Sam Lousi, Mitchell Chapman, Stephen Hoiles, Brendan McKibbin, Jono Lance, Taqele Naiyaravoro.