The 27-year-old joined the Waratahs during the off-season after a glittering rugby league career with the Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights.
Tahu also represented New South Wales on 11 occasions in the State of Origin series, and Australia five times at international level.
Having left rugby league for the 15-man code, Tahu will start his first match on the bench although coach Ewen McKenzie revealed his star recruit will get plenty of game time.
Wallabies stars Lote Tuqiri, Dan Vickerman and Phil Waugh have been rested for the game, giving many of the Waratahs' younger players a chance to impress McKenzie.
"This is a big opportunity for several of our younger players to burst out of the blocks against a pretty strong Queensland side," McKenzie said.
Josh Valentine and Daniel Halangahu will start in the halves, while youngster Tom Carter will get his first crack at inside centre.
Carter missed the majority of the 2007 Super 14 season through injury, but McKenzie has earmarked him as a player to watch in 2008.
"Tom toured South Africa and pushed really hard for a start and he was close to getting a start before injury unfortunately struck soon after," McKenzie said.
Carter will line-up alongside Ben Jacobs, and the 24-year-old is keen to start the pre-season in style after the disappointment of 2007.
"I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in with Ben and making the most of the opportunity," Carter said.
"We were room-mates in South Africa last year and he just appears to be improving each season."
