NSW recruit Drew Mitchell says the Waratahs have high expectations of themselves and there is a feeling of excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the franchise.

The Wallabies and former Force and Reds outside back was among the latest batch of Test players to report for Waratahs training following their break after the Spring tour.

Mitchell said he felt like the new kid at school, but felt his new colleagues had been really "accepting and inviting".

Mitchell displayed plenty of enthusiasm himself as he assessed the quality of the NSW backline.

"I think it's very exciting, there's youth right across the board in every position," Mitchell told reports at Waratah's training on Monday.

"Everyone is really keen and eager to go out there and compete against each other at training, but also should get themselves in the best position to play the first game.

"There's a real excitement and enthusiasm around the place."

NSW just missed the finals in 2008 after finishing runner up the previous year and Mitchell was well aware of the external expectations of his team.

"There's pretty high expectations and rightly so, the boys have done really well in the past," Mitchell said.

"That expectation is always going to be there externally, but also internally, we've got a high expectation of ourselves.

"We've got to test each other at training, but if we can transfer that onto the field, then hopefully we get the results we are after."

Capable of playing fullback or wing, Mitchell said he was happy to line up in either position.

Waratah's coach Chris Hickey said he would trial games over the coming weeks to finalise his back three formation for the opening Super round match against the Reds next month.

Mitchell, Lachie Turner and another recruit, All Black Sosene Anesi, are all candidates for the fullback position, along with Kurtley Beale and Daniel Halangahu.

Hickey said the versatility of his outside backs was valuable and that Mitchell possessed all the qualities to fill any of the back three positions.

"His versatility to play fullback or wing is really important, he also has a strong kicking game," Hickey said of Mitchell.

"So if you describe the sort of player that you want to play in that back three, he ticks just about all the boxes."

Mitchell said Beale, who is due to appear in court on a common assault charge on Wednesday, had the support of his teammates.

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