Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has been rewarded with a starting spot for the Waratahs against the Cheetahs on Saturday after his stellar performance in Cape Town, while Israel Folau is under an illness cloud after missing training on Thursday.

NSW have made just one change to their victorious XV that departed South Africa with four crucial points from a game they were not expected to win.

Polota-Nau takes the place of Hugh Roach - who has been dropped to the bench - and it is no surprise Gibson was going to put the 61-Test Wallabies hooker back where he belongs in what will be his first starting role since round two against the Brumbies when he injured his arm.

When Gibson pulled Roach off Newlands in the 33th minute on Saturday for Polota-Nau, it was the first time this season he has made an interchange in the first half - with the exception of injury replacements.

With Roach's lineouts still susceptible, it is a clear sign Gibson wants to get as much out of Polota-Nau as possible.

"You see when he came on he settled the team, especially in the set piece," said Wycliff Palu. "His presence around the field is a big plus for us."

Meanwhile, Israel Folau is no certainty to face the Cheetahs after missing Thursday's training session through illness.

Gibson said Folau had caught a bug at the latter part of the South African trip, most likely from fellow teammates who were infected, it is believed, by utility forward Dean Mumm.

Even at the Wallabies jersey launch on Wednesday Folau made sure he didn't get too close to guests.

His presence at training alone was a positive and given the way he has been playing, Gibson and Waratahs coaching staff will no doubt give him until the 11th hour to prove he is ready to go.

If Folau is not right in time for Saturday's fixture at Allianz Stadium, Rob Horne would be his likely replacement at outside centre, meaning bench player Matt Carraro could fill the vacant wing position.

Jack Dempsey, who was hopeful on Monday of getting a game this weekend, will have to watch from the stands again due to the shoulder injury he sustained against the Force two weeks ago in Perth.

NSW have lost their last three games at home this season and the last time they defeated the Cheetahs in Sydney was in 2010; a record five-eighth Bernard Foley - who on Saturday will become the Waratahs' equal highest Super Rugby-capped No.10 with Daniel Halangahu - said they are desperate to fix.

" It's great for us to get those wins away, but we really want to come back and make Allianz a bit of a fortress the way we have in the last couple of years," Foley said. "There was a slow start and there were a number of different new players and as a squad we were quite young. It's something we knew wasn't going to gel straight away, but we've been disappointed about our home games. We haven't started well and it's been a big factor and we haven't let our fans see our talent."

Nick Phipps agreed with his halves partner,  and said while it was good to beat the Stormers, the Waratahs have to be wary of complacency by putting in a solid showing at home.

"We've got to limit the back-slapping," Phipps said. "It was a great win - it was very important for our season - we haven't played well at home yet this season. It's something that annoys us, not just because of the loss, but because that's somewhere where we want to be thanking our home fans that come out to the game and the members. We've got a good opportunity to fight for a win against a great South African team."

Waratahs team: 1. Paddy Ryan, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3. Tom Robertson, 4. David Dennis (VC), 5. Will Skelton, 6. Dean Mumm, 7. Michael Hooper (C), 8. Jed Holloway, 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Rob Horne, 12. Kurtley Beale, 13. Israel Folau, 14. Reece Robinson, 15. Andrew Kellaway. Reserves: 16. Hugh Roach, caps)17. Jeremy Tilse (53 caps)18. Angus Ta'avao (56 caps)19. Sam Lousi (11 caps)20. Wycliff Palu (128 caps)21. Matt Lucas (20 caps)22. David Horwitz (7 caps)23. Matt Carraro (48 caps)