Wycliff Palu fit but unlikely to start for the Waratahs Wycliff Palu in action for the Waratahs. THE strong form of No.8 Pat McCutcheon is set to see Wallaby powerhouse Wycliff Palu make his return to the Waratahs via the bench on Saturday. After a month on the sideline, Palu will return from an ankle injury against the Hurricanes in Wellington but is set to be an impact player, according to coach Michael Cheika. "`Cutch' has been playing pretty well so you'd have to think he (Palu) is going to come off the bench," Cheika said. Overall, Cutch can play much better but considering where he has come from on his return, and what I asked him to do, I probably have to, out of respect, keep picking him. McCutcheon only recently returned from a year out following a nasty ankle dislocation and fracture but has been a valuable addition to the Tahs' backrow, combining a huge work rate with a previously absent feisty edge in the pack. Cheika said Palu would still play an important role as a ball-carrying forward as well. "Cliff is obviously a player who the opposition pay a fair bit of attention to, so he could open up some space," Cheika said. But I think we need to get some serious go-forward against the Hurricanes, so to do that, runners like Cliff are going to have to be at their best. Cheika said the Canes' attacking threats were lethal, and NSW would have to dominate possession, eliminate turnovers and be more forceful in defence. They're pretty handy. They have got some threats that if you give them the ball in any type of wrong space, they'll clean you up," he said. We must improve defensively. In the Force game, we were OK but we soaked a lot of tackles, which isn't acceptable at the top level. Hookers Tatafu Polota-Nau and John Ulugia both didn't train yesterday following head knocks. Halfback Matt Lucas trained with the main side ahead of Brendan McKibbin. I was just giving Kibbo a break today. He did it a fair bit of running on the weekend," Cheika said. Matt Lucas probably deserves an opportunity at some stage based on his performances off the bench.