Aussie WSBK legend Troy Bayliss is on hand at Phillip Island this weekend and he reckons Waters and Staring can surprise on Sunday.

Triple Superbike World Champion Troy Bayliss is confident that Australian wild cards Josh Waters and Bryan Staring have what it takes to impress at Phillip Island’s season opener tomorrow.

Speaking exclusively to MotoOnline.com.au, the retired Ducati star says he’s impressed with what he’s seen so far as the two most recent ASBK champions make their WSBK debuts.

With Bayliss a former standout wildcard himself – both in WSBK and 250cc GP racing – his advice for the duo is to simply enjoy the experience and do the best they can come tomorrow afternoon’s pair of 22-lap races.

Waters makes his debut for Yoshimura Suzuki as Aussie Team Suzuki manager Phil Tainton’s latest riding star, a situation that Bayliss was in during the mid-90s himself.

“Josh has been going good for a while now and he’s had quite a big crash recently, so it’s good to see him come back strong and earn a wild card with Yosh,” Bayliss commented.

“If he can get inside the top 12 I think it would be a great effort – he has what it takes too.”

Staring will debut for Pedercini Kawasaki, the Italian-based team he will contest the European Superstock 1000 FIM Cup with this season, however he also has the task of developing the all-new ZX-10R as he goes.

“I do know Bryan and do a bit of training with him up on the Gold Coast, so I know how dedicated he really is and how hard he’s trying,” Bayliss added.

“I hope they both do go well and they’re the standout guys in Australia at the moment – they really give it a nudge, that’s for sure!”

Speaking of tomorrow’s races, Bayliss gave us his thoughts on what would be going on in the minds of the Aussie up and comers as they prepare tonight following qualifying.

“Going into the races Josh will be knowing he’s quite capable and has already done a really good job, whereas Bryan is back a little bit and honestly we haven’t seen Kawasaki do well in a really long time – he’s in a different situation to Josh,” Bayliss said.

“I really believe Josh is going to have a really great day tomorrow. Bryan might find it harder in his situation, but he will get there in the end.”

Bayliss made his World Superbike debut for Suzuki Australia as a wild card in 1997 at Phillip Island, stunning with a pair of impressive fifth place finishes in both races on his domestic-spec GSX-R750.

Waters today qualified an exceptional 11th on the grid for tomorrow, while Staring will start from position 18.