Timana Tahu says he's licking his lips at the prospect of coming up against tired rugby forwards following his majestic first run for the NSW Waratahs.

The former Kangaroo and NRL superstar mesmerised the Queensland backline in the Waratahs' 26-10 trial win at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday night, putting on a skill-packed performance which could have fast-tracked his Wallaby aspirations.

With all eyes on Tahu, the ex-Newcastle and Parramatta centre set up one of his side's more impressive attacking raids with his first touch and scored a try with his second.

"I think come late in the halves there's a lot of mis-matches where there's forwards out on the edges," the 27-year-old said.

"I start licking my lips and start dribbling a little bit when that happens.

"Usually you've got big fast centres up against you all the time in league and here but late in the halves you start seeing the forwards bludging a little bit.

"I felt like there was heaps of space around, it's just a matter of trying to get yourself in position."

Perhaps more ominous for NSW's Super 14 opponents in 2008 is Tahu's attitude.

He got a feel for his career change with two bone-crushing tackles on unsuspecting Reds Lloyd Johansson and Andrew Walker and he said he'd brought the passion that came with wearing a blue State of Origin across with him.

"Probably playing NRL you're just playing for your club but the best thing about playing for the Waratahs is you're playing for your state so you've got to have a bit of passion for your jumper," he said.

"I treat it the same as playing Origin. It's a big thing you're representing your state so I put a lot of pride in this jumper."

After declaring his ambition to be a Wallaby, Tahu's switch has suddenly made Australia's outside centre stocks bulge, with national captain Stirling Mortlock and Western Force ex-leaguey Ryan Cross also in great form last year, but the Waratahs recruit said learning the position would be his biggest challenge.

"I'm supposed to be trying to conserve some energy instead of trying to roam around," he said of his first hit-out.

"It's just little things like that. I feel like I'm still playing rugby league a little bit where you play the ball and you've got to try and get back into your positions, so I think I've got to stop doing that a little bit and just fold back."

Meanwhile, Waratahs five-eighth Daniel Halangahu looks likely to be sidelined for 6-8 weeks with an ankle injury picked up in the trial.

Halangahu will have scans this week to determine the extent of the injury.

Halfback Josh Valentine will also have scans but is expecting to be cleared of a gluteus muscle problem.

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