Head coach Rob Penney's Waratahs will feature a host of young talent when they face the Reds in the Super Rugby AU opener in Brisbane on Friday.

Kick-off is at 11:05 (SA time).

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Penney's team announcement was headlined by the selection of Will Harris (No 8) and Joey Walton (inside centre), who are both set to make their Waratahs debuts.

They'll join the likes of fellow Junior Wallabies Angus Bell (loosehead prop), Will Harrison (flyhalf) and Mark Nawaqanitawase (left wing) in the run-on side.

Tom Horton, Tiaan Tauakipulu and Ben Donaldson are also in line to make their professional debuts from the bench, where they’ll be alongside the experienced trio of Tetera Faulkner, Tom Staniforth and Jack Dempsey who will provide Penney with plenty of options throughout the game.

Ned Hanigan returns from injury to partner Rob Simmons in the second-row, Jack Maddocks plays at fullback and Mitch Short will start in place of the injured scrumhalf Jake Gordon.

Alex Newsome will partner Joey Walton in midfield and has also been named vice-captain, his first official leadership role within the Waratahs set-up.

Teams:

Reds

15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Jock Campbell, 13 Hunter Paisami, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright (captain), 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Harry Hoopert

Substitutes: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 JP Smith, 18 Josh Nasser, 19 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Scott Malolua, 22 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 23 Josh Flook

Waratahs

15 Jack Maddocks, 14 James Ramm, 13 Alex Newsome, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Mitch Short, 8 Will Harris, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Lachlan Swinton, 5 Rob Simmons (captain), 4 Ned Hanigan, 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Robbie Abel, 1 Angus Bell

Substitutes: 16 Tom Horton, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Tom Staniforth, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Michael McDonald, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Tepai Moeroa

- TEAMtalk media