Kurtley Beale has been in fine form at fullback, but will make a positional shift for Friday's clash © Getty Images

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Matches: Blues 26 - 13 New South Wales Waratahs

Players/Officials: Kurtley Beale

Tournaments/Tours: Super Rugby

Teams: Australia | Blues | New South Wales Waratahs

The Blues have vowed to target the in-form Waratahs playmaker Kurtley Beale during their Super Rugby elimination qualifier at Eden Park on Friday night.

Beale has been one of the Waratahs' standout performers of late, and their Auckland-based rivals believe that stifling his attacking intent is they to seeing off their injury-ravaged rivals. The 22-year-old Wallabies international, who will switch clubs next season to join the Melbourne Rebels, moves from fullback to fly-half for the game to fill the void left by the injured Daniel Halangahu and is in his opposite number Stephen Brett's sights.

''If he's there, we definitely want to put a lot of pressure on him,'' Brett told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''Obviously, he's a key factor in their side so, if we can shut him down, then hopefully it will shut their side down. 'The amount of growth he's had in the last two years has been unbelievable. For a player who had that talent, to step it up, he's just gone along in leaps and bounds.

''He is a phenomenal player. He has quick feet, a good kicking game. I really rate how he is playing at the moment and he is going to be a big threat. If he is on his A-game like he has been for the last couple of weeks, they're going to be tough to beat.''

Blues coach Pat Lam is another wary of Beale's talent, and explained that even his children look up to the Wallabies star. ''He's X-factor, he's a quality player, my kids like him,'' Lam said. ''They were pretty annoyed we were playing the Waratahs because they like Kurtley Beale. At 10 or 15, he's got to be a threat, and he'll run the game for them, and he's a dangerous player who will have to shut down.''

Beale will be partnered in the halves by Josh Holmes, who will come into the side for Luke Burgess who broke a bone in a hand in training this week. As part of the reshuffled backline, former All Black and Chief Sosene Anesi comes in to start on the left wing.

Also missing from the win over the Brumbies are hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau because of a knee complaint and tighthead prop Al Baxter with concussion. Their places are taken by John Ulugia and Paddy Ryan. In one other change to the starting 15, lock Kane Douglas returns from suspension. The Waratahs' injury woes also mean inside back Bernard Foley and hooker Elvis Taione have been called up to the bench and are in line to make their Super Rugby debuts.

Coach Chris Hickey said constant team changes forced by injuries was something the Waratahs had faced for most of the regular season, so the situation this week wasn't unfamiliar. "We've managed to deal with that over the last 15 weeks," he said. "The fact that it has happened to us still in this week hasn't actually been that disruptive."

Blues: Jared Payne, Joe Rokocoko, Benson Stanley, Luke McAlister, Lachie Munro, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson; Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Charlie Faumuina.

Replacements: Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau, Chris Lowery, Daniel Braid, Chris Smylie, Winston Stanley, Sherwin Stowers.

Waratahs: Lachie Turner, Atieli Pakalani, Ryan Cross, Tom Carter, Sosene Anesi, Kurtley Beale, Josh Holmes, Dave Dennis, Phil Waugh, Dean Mumm, Sitaleki Timani, Kane Douglas, Paddy Ryan, John Ulugia, Benn Robinson.

Replacements: Elvis Taione, Jeremy Tilse, Pat O'Connor, Chris Alcock, Hugh Perrett, Brendan McKibbin, Bernard Foley