Suaalii set to boost Waratahs after injury return

NSW Waratahs star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is set to return to the side after overcoming a foot injury.

Suaalii took part in training as the side prepared to head to Wellington for Friday's clash with the Hurricanes.

The four-Test Wallaby debuted for the Waratahs against the Highlanders and has not featured since after picking up the injury during the opening-round win.

"Joe's trained well; it was a tough session today," Waratahs assistant coach Mike Catt said to the media, confirming his availability for selection.

"He's had a good four weeks off, cleared the head and mind and he's got all the afterburners on."

It leaves Waratahs coach Dan McKellar with an interesting selection headache amid a plethora of options.

Triston Reilly and Max Jorgensen were both superb on the weekend in the win over the Brumbies, whilst Darby Lancaster returned from injury via the Waratahs A side.

On top of this, the Waratahs are due to rest players in the coming weeks, with Jorgensen and fullback Andrew Kellaway among those needing to take a week off before their next home game against the Chiefs in mid-April.

"It's what we want. We want the Triston Reilly's and the Darby's (Lancaster) to come through to put pressure on the guys that have come back," Catt believes.

"The beauty about the resting is Dan's known about that from day one. That's all been in the planning. We know it's happening.

"It's good for the player to have that rest not just physically but mentally and emotionally too for them to rejig and go again. 

"So we're very fortunate at the moment to have back three players that are performing exceptionally well with a few young guys like Archie Saunders and those guys pushing up from the younger grades.

"It's good competition but the big boys have stepped up which is great."