Rob Horne is one half of the most intriguing positional experiment in Australian rugby, and he's loving it – not least because he's playing inside "the best player in the world". The experienced centre will reprise his midfield partnership with Israel Folau for the Waratahs' clash with the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday for just the second time.

The experiment was wildly successful in the side's 45-25 win against the Chiefs before the pair returned to their traditional positions of wing [Horne] and fullback [Folau] during the Wallabies' dismal 3-0 series capitulation to England.

Despite fervent speculation, Test coach Michael Cheika resisted moving his outstanding fullback to the centres. But NSW coach Daryl Gibson has been so happy with the fruits of the pair's partnership that it will be interesting to see how long Cheika resists the temptation to move Folau up closer to the action.

For Horne's part, toggling between wing and centre, depending on the colour of his jersey, has been an enjoyable challenge.

"It's pretty fortunate to play outside the Wallaby No.9 and No.10 and have someone who I think is the best player in the world outside me," he said from Tokyo. It's not that difficult, to be honest."

It is ironic that the player once lambasted for being one-dimensional has transformed himself into something close to a utility in Australian rugby.

Once viewed solely as an outside centre, Horne has successfully applied his hard-running, hard-tackling style to no less than three back-line positions for his province and his country.

The 26-year-old, who plays his 100th Super Rugby game for the Waratahs on Saturday, even put an early-season hand injury behind him to storm back for the Waratahs and Wallabies mid-way through the season, scoring two tries in his first two games back.

Now at the business end of the season and boosted by the return of 130-kilogram  winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, Horne said there was  excitement when the team came back together after the Test break.

"It's always nice to play for NSW, it's a very easy thing to do," he said. "We left on a really high note and all the little things that go in to making that happen are what we've been focusing on since being back.

"There's no magical formula or anything, it's the basics that allow us to play the game we want. How we carry, our effectiveness at the breakdown and how we execute. Those are the little things that make the flashy stuff happen."

Horne was quick to shut down talk of a bonus point win in Japan, but there is no denying the Waratahs need to produce some of the "flashy stuff" to fight on through to their third finals series in as many years. Equal on points with the Brumbies, they cede top spot in the conference with one less win than their Australian rivals, making a bonus point an inconvenient but necessary factor.

And while the Brumbies enjoy a comparatively relaxing run home in the regular season, facing the 14th-placed Reds, the 11th-placed Blues and the Western Force, the Waratahs will arrive home from Tokyo to prepare to host last year's finalists the Hurricanes in the penultimate round.

Horne, a vice-captain at NSW, was keeping his focus narrow. Naiyaravoro will have a point to prove in his return for NSW, while Matt Lucas, named at halfback while Test No.9 Nick Phipps is rested, will also be focused on getting the job done.

"We never talk about bonus points; we know that if we win keep winning things will go well – it's as simple as that," he said.

"This weekend we play a team that have nothing to lose and have plenty of tricks up their sleeve so we're going to have to be on and completely focused to do the job."

Waratahs: Andrew Kellaway, Reece Robinson, Israel Folau, Rob Horne, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Bernard Foley, Matt Lucas, Dave Dennis, Michael Hooper (c), Jack Dempsey, Will Skelton, Dean Mumm, Tom Robertson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Paddy Ryan.

Reserves (two to be omitted): Hugh Roach, Jeremy Tilse, Angus Ta'avao, Sam Lousi, Wycliff Palu, Ned Hanigan, Nick Phipps, David Horwitz, Tolu Latu, Matt Carraro.