Wallabies back Berrick Barnes is set to play in the NSW Waratahs’ final Super 14 trial after receiving a positive report on his ankle injury at training on Monday.

Barnes was named Wallabies vice-captain for last year’s spring tour but never played a game after suffering syndesmosis in the lead-up to the Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Tokyo.

Despite his misfortune, Barnes quickly joined his new Waratahs teammates before Christmas after moving down from Queensland.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said Barnes, who had a cast removed from his ankle before Christmas, trained on Monday morning.

Barnes didn’t train on Monday afternoon, along with centres Tom Carter and Rob Horne, who are both recuperating from hamstring strain.

“He (Barnes) has made really good progress, the medical report on him today was very, very positive,” Hickey told AAP.

“In our discussions this morning, we think the he will probably be back for that last trial against the Brumbies at this stage.

“But obviously we have to monitor these things.”

Most of the Waratahs’ spring tourists will resume next week.

However, among those to return on Monday were front rowers Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, locks Dean Mumm and David Dennis and halfback Luke Burgess.

Meanwhile, two of the Waratahs imports have impressed with their pre-season endeavours.

New Zealand winger-fullback Sosene Anesi set a franchise-record for the “yoyo” fitness test, an exercise to gauge player’s aerobic capacity, posting a score of 20.4.

Another to impress was former Emerging Springbok lock Hendrik Roodt.

The giant South African forward achieved his pre-Christmas aim of shedding several kilos to get down to his playing weight of 121kg.

“To get down to 121 kilos at this stage is remarkable from his point of view, but it also puts him in a great position now to push forward over the next three weeks,” Hickey said.

Hickey said Anesi and Roodt could each feature in NSW’s opening trial against Queensland in Lismore on January 23.

“I think they are two players we would like to see have a hit-out in that first trial. It’s important for them being new to get into the team and get a feel for how the team plays,” Hickey said.

The Waratahs’ other overseas-born recruit, New Zealand flanker Cam Jowitt, is some chance of playing in Lismore despite having a thumb operation.

“It will just depend on how he recovers over the next couple of weeks, but if he’s fit and available, we would like to see him play that game against the Reds,” Hickey said.

Hickey said his Wallabies wouldn’t play in the opening trial.

One player who is in doubt for that game is flanker Ben Mowen, who is recovering from knee surgery.

“It’s an opportunity to give some of the younger players a really good hit out to see what they’ve got to offer. Every year there’s one or two players who surprise you.”

© AAP 2012

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