In-demand flanker Rocky Elsom has been restored to the NSW side for Saturday's vital Super 12 match with the Highlanders in Dunedin, but stressed he was still "a few weeks away" from deciding whether to remain with the Waratahs.

Elsom, who has reportedly attracted the interest of Queensland, ACT and Western Force, was restored to the starting line-up at blindside flanker in place of Stephen Hoiles in the only change to the side which started against the Brumbies.

While Waratahs prop Gareth Hardy joined fellow NSW front runner Brendan Cannon in pledging his services for next year to the Force, Elsom still had to decide whose colours he would wear in the 2006 season.

"Not for a few weeks, I don't think. I haven't gone over to Western Australia or to meet with other provinces in the competition at the moment, so I'll just have to weigh it up," Elsom said.

NSW coach Ewen McKenzie was looking to renowned hard-hitter Elsom to help the Waratahs "get stuck in early" against a formidable Highlanders pack.

"If you spent any time watching the way the Highlanders play, you will see that they are a hard-driving, close-in type forward pack and I think that's one area of the game we've got to get stuck in early," McKenzie said.

"Rocky has been giving us a fair bit of abrasive play late in the games, where I think we might actually want to use that earlier in the game.

"It's probably more useful early in the game and Stephen Hoiles has been playing well for us.

"So we are still going to use him in the game and he will give us some of those attacking qualities, in particular late in the game when some of the sorting out has been done."

McKenzie named a squad of 24, which included captain and halfback Chris Whitaker who this weekend will make his 100th appearance for the Waratahs.

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