The powerhouse lock had three operations, a toolbox of screws and pins inserted, and months of rehabilitation after his right wrist "exploded" attempting to palm off a tackler in 2018.

An invitation from Merewether coach Jamie Lind to "help out" at the start of this season revived his interest.

Once his fiance Grace, a radiographer at John Hunter Hospital who he met when she took X-Rays of his wrists, gave her approval, it was game on.

Jackson, 30, made his first-grade starting return in the 20-15 loss to Wanderers on Wednesday night and will line up against University at Bernie Curran Oval on Saturday.

"Once Jamie asked me to help out, I dipped my toe in," Jackson said. "Grace was against me playing at first. I took her to the Anzac clash against Wanderers at Townson Oval and she said: 'OK, you can play'. Now she comes to all the games and enjoys it."

After a few weeks in the lower grades "getting my confidence back" Jackson looms as a key figure in the back end of the season.

"First grade is a different beast to the lower grades," Jackson said. "It took me a bit to work into the game against Wanderers. It's a red-hot side that we have. I was fortunate to get a start. I have been used to jumping at two and calling the lineouts. Coming back this year, the boys there are quality jumpers. It has been a bit of an adjustment slotting in at six. There is a bit less pressure there."

Jackson had five years at The Waratahs before joining Merewether and will face off against former Tahs teammates Carl Manu and Dylan Heins on Saturday.

"Carl is like a fine wine, he gets better with age," Jackson said. "University have really stepped up."

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Manu, No.8 Kirk Tufuga and outside centre Louis Rogers have returned from the Hunter Wildfires and added much-needed direction to a Students outfit that has won three of the last four games.

"The big thing for us has been their decision making," University coach Tony Munro said. "Physically the young kids are matching up with the opposition but they hadn't been making the right decision at the right time. Guys like Carl and Kirk give them that bit of direction. They are talking to the boys all the time. They will stop little things at training, correct it and then move on. They won't let mistakes go."

Merewether demolished University 92-5 in their first encounter in round three. The Students are much improved but Munro remains wary.

"Our blokes are going to have to be on their game to make sure the Greens don't get that wide ball and run away with it," Munro said. "They did that to us in the first encounter. Hopefully with our fitness levels and the improvement we have shown, we can be competitive again."

In other games Saturday, Maitland are at home to a desperate Southern Beaches and Nelson Bay make the long trek to Singleton.

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