Giant South African Hendrik Roodt has declared his readiness to make his Waratahs debut in his homeland, as one of three inexperienced Super 14 players vying to fill a vacant lock position.

New-Zealand born lock Cam Jowitt will miss the matches in South Africa against the Stormers and Bulls after suffering ankle bone bruising in the 30-28 opening round win over Queensland in Brisbane.

Moving versatile Dean Mumm from the back row to the second row is not an option after the Wallabies forward received a two match ban for shoulder-charging the back of Reds reserve hooker Saia Faingaa.

Roodt 22, who has yet to play a Super 14 game, is vying for the vacant position with 20-year-old Kane Douglas and 2009 Wallabies tourist David Dennis, each of whom have made just one tournament appearance.

As the second row reserve for the Queensland game, Australian under-20 representative Douglas would appear to have the inside running ahead of Roodt and Dennis, neither of whom made the squad.

However Roodt, who took last year off to study and hasn't played a meaningful competitive game for 18 months, is gradually regaining match fitness after playing extensively in the Waratahs trials.

"I've had a few trials and I'm still a little bit rusty but I think I'm getting there and I think I can play," Roodt told reporters at Sydney Airport on Monday before flying to South Africa.

Hard work with the Waratahs conditioning team has helped the Bulls junior shed 22 kilos as he prepares to see his family for the first time since leaving South Africa late last year.

"They won't recognise me I think, I'm a little bit skinnier than they are used to," joked Roodt, who is back to his playing weight of 120 kilos.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey praised Roodt's attitude and work ethic and felt returning home would be a motivating force for the strapping 200cm Emerging Springboks lock.

"His preparation has been really good and I'm quite sure that going back to his homeland he'll feel that he wants to really prove a point about making the move to Australia, so I'm confident that he'll perform well," Hickey told reporters.

Hickey stressed NSW had plenty to work on after two late tries secured a dramatic - and many would say undeserved - opening round away win over Queensland.

The last gasp victory over the Reds temporarily relieved a little pressure on NSW, which doesn't have a home game until round four.

"When you start the season with three away games, I guess you need to come away from that with a minimum of one out of three, so it does relieve a little bit of pressure from that point of view," Hickey said.

"But each game is a challenge, so the pressure will be there on Saturday with the Stormers."

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