Wallabies captain Michael Hooper says he's comfortable handing back the Waratahs' leadership to Dave Dennis, after finishing last season as skipper of both sides.
Hooper had the captain's armband for the final stages of the Waratahs' triumphant 2014 Super Rugby campaign after blindside flanker Dennis suffered a season ending knee injury.
Openside flanker Hooper subsequently went on to captain the Wallabies.
Dennis has recovered from a knee reconstruction and will play some part in the Waratahs' season opener against Western Force on Sunday, with Hooper having no qualms about playing under him.
"Very comfortable, I can't wait to see Dave back and it was great to play with him (in a trial) last week," Hooper said.
"Dave does such a huge job there and such a good job, it's fantastic to play with him and to play under him.
"However I can help him in his capacity as captain, I'm happy with."
Wallabies and Waratahs coach Michael Cheika confirmed Dennis as NSW skipper and dismissed any debate about whether Hooper not leading his state team would impact on his prospects of captaining Australia at the World Cup later this year.
"It's an irrelevant point right now, we (NSW) are in our season," Cheika said.
"Dave Dennis is our captain here and has been since this whole project started and he's evolving as well as a captain, to be a very good one."
Giant winger Taqele Naiyaravoro is looming as the favourite to fill one of the vacant spots in the team for Sunday's game at Allianz Stadium.
Naiyaravoro, who played a handful of games off the bench last season after switching over from the Wests Tigers NRL club, is tipped to fill the spot vacated by Alofa Alofa, who moved to French club La Rochelle after the 2014 Super Rugby final.
The 194cm, 123kg Fijian has scored three tries in two trial matches and looks to have an early season edge over veteran Matt Carraro, youngster Andrew Kellaway and Test winger Peter Betham, who missed both trials but is available for Sunday.
"Taqele is definitely in the pole position because you ask players to train hard and then perform in the pre-season matches and he has done both," Cheika said.
"Based on that you have to look at giving him a run."
Cheika could have his entire squad at his disposal, with lock Mitchell Chapman the only doubt, after copping a head knock in last week's trial against the Chiefs.
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