Acting Waratahs skipper Daniel Halangahu has predicted a harder edge to Queensland's play under new coach Ewen McKenzie in Saturday night's trial match in Lismore.

It will be McKenzie's first game against NSW since his five-year tenure at the Waratahs ended in 2008, the former Wallaby having guided the Sydney-based side to two Super 14 grand finals during his time.

Halangahu, who was one of several Waratahs given their first Super opportunity by McKenzie, expected his old mentor's influence to be reflected in their four quarter fixture at Oakes Oval.

"Ewen really enjoys the contest and he will try and impress upon his players that you've got to win every little contest," Halangahu told AAP on Friday.

"We know it's probably not the Queensland of old ... I think they will definitely be fighting for 80 minutes.

"It goes both ways. Ewen knows the players in our side as well. He was responsible for getting a lot of us to the club, so it makes it quite an interesting contest.

"Ewen gave me my first start, but he was also responsible for turning around a lot of the things that happened at the Waratahs.

"It's quite strange to think that the guy who was the one that brought us a lot of success and made those changes which have been great for the club and he's on the other side of the fence.

"I think that will definitely all be forgotten once we are out on the field."

Although the match will be missing Wallabies stars, the Waratahs will give their major overseas recruits, South African lock Hendrik Roodt and All Blacks back Sosene Anesi their first opportunity in a NSW jersey.

Halangahu said the newcomers had already been made aware of the NSW-Queensland rivalry.

"The majority of the squad tomorrow night has got something to play for and that's why I think the game should be pretty serious," Halangahu said.

"When you are on the field and wearing the sky blue and they've got that maroon jersey on, there's definitely going to be that passion, we will rip into them.

"For some of the guys it will be their first experience playing against Queensland.

"It's quite a big occasion for a number of our side."

Acting Reds captain Ben Daley emphasised Queensland were treating Saturday's first hit-out of the campaign as much more than just a trial.

"A lot of the guys won't be treating it as a trial, it's a game that a lot of the guys think is a must win and it is," prop Daley told AAP on Friday.

"A lot of the guys are looking to push their claims. Every spot is up for grabs now that the new coach has come in and a lot of the boys are excited by that prospect."

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