Sydney product Jono Jenkins is poised to finally consign the most heartbreaking debut in Super Rugby to history with a bittersweet return for the Western Force on Saturday night.

Jenkins on Thursday is likely to be revealed as the Force's third No.7 this season, filling the huge boots of injured flankers David Pocock (knee) and Matt Hodgson (shoulder) to lead the charge into a pivotal breakdown battle against NSW at Perth's nib Stadium.

The 24-year-old will oppose long-time Sydney University teammate Pat McCutcheon, who was on Wednesday named to replace Phil Waugh (calf) in one of two changes to the Waratahs pack.

While McCutcheon will be desperate to atone for botching a try in NSW's embarrassing 23-3 round five loss to the Cheetahs in his last start, it will be nothing compared to Jenkins' relief at another opportunity.

The interstate derby comes 13 months after the ball scavenger's first and last appearance in Force colours, when he suffered a broken leg when tackled with his only touch of the ball in a 50-10 away loss to the Queensland Reds.

"It was dreadful," Force coach Richard Graham told AAP on Wednesday. "He was on there for just 14 seconds.

"He endured a horrible, horrible debut, and it was a really bad injury."

Jenkins bounced back late in the 2010 season in club rugby, impressing in Sydney University's premiership team, taking an injured Waugh's place and teaming with McCutcheon and Force No.8 Ben McCalman in the back-row, to gain a rookie 2011 contract with the Force.

Graham indicated Jenkins' form for the Force's A-team, as well as the coach's own reluctance in reshuffling his pack by moving lock Sam Wykes into the back-row, had given him the mature-age rookie the inside running for No.7.

With six of the Waratahs starting XV Sydney Uni teammates of Jenkins from last year, NSW won't need to do much homework on the late-bloomer for what coach Chris Hickey sees as a key battleground at the breakdown.

"He'll compete very strongly at the ball and in the tackle contest at the ball so the clash between he and McCutcheon will be an interesting one," Hickey told AAP.

McCalman's stoush with his Wallabies No.8 predecessor Wycliff Palu, as well as the Brown-Ben Mowen battle, will no doubt grab the attention of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

NSW, who have handed the captaincy again to Dean Mumm and recalled Kane Douglas to the second row, have struggled to perform without Waugh but Graham dismissed his absence as a leg-up for the battling Force.

"It would be nice if they lost three or four other players as well wouldn't it?" he said.

"I think they've got enough experience, they've still got another 10 or 11 Wallabies."

Graham said New Zealand recruit Willie Ripia would start at five-eighth if he proved his fitness on Thursday, forcing in-form utility James O'Connor out of the playmaking role.

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