John Mulvihill, one of the leading candidates to take over as coach of the NSW Waratahs, has said he is prepared for the brickbats and bouquets which would come with the job.

The Western Force assistant coach is being considered to take over from Ewen McKenzie, who since being told his contract will not be renewed next year has put the Waratahs in pole position for a Super 14 semi-final spot.

While Mulvihill is competing with the likes of Chris Hickey, Les Kiss and John McKee to replace McKenzie, former Wallabies assistant Scott Johnson has ruled himself out of the race - and warned the successful candidates to watch their back.

But the former Waratah and Balmain Tiger said he was prepared for the massive rise in profile the role would bring, after the relative anonymity of assistant Force coach in a city still learning to love rugby.

"It is a part of the role, and to be successful as a head coach you need to step up and I am confident I can do in that," Mulvihill said.

"It is the pre-eminent rugby coaching position in Australia, it is held in high esteem, and I would definitely hold it in high esteem if I was successful in getting the job.

"I have wanted to be a head coach at some stage, but I think you have to go through the process in Super 14 to find out if you are the right person for a job like that.

"I have had a pretty good apprenticeship under an international coach at the Western Force over the last three years.

"And he believed I am ready to go to the next level."

After his name was publicly linked with the job last week, the Force even went as far as endorsing their man in a press statement, causing some eyebrows to raise in the east but a move welcomed by Mulvihill.

And he said the thoughts of Force coach John Mitchell were a key ingredient in his putting forward his name to the Waratahs.

"One of the things he always wanted from day one was that he wanted to build me into a head coach, and he believes I am at the stage now that I can take the next step," Mulvihill said.

And he said taking charge of the Perth Spirit side in the now defunct Australian Rugby Championships last year had given him further insight.

"That was another step and all with all the media that came with that, I thought I covered those areas quite well," Mulvihill said.

Meanwhile, injured Waratah flanker Rocky Elsom believes the Waratahs have lifted since the announcement of McKenzie's end-of-season departure because it took the pressure off both players and coaches.

"It was putting a lot of pressure on the team and probably the coaching staff, so since that has happened the boys have really felt the difference and they've just been able to do what they do and they've done it really well," he said.

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