By Warwick Barr

SYDNEY, Aug 24 AAP - A modern-day rugby league great has been revealed as a driving force behind the career revival of Kody Nestor, the bush apprentice who is out to continue his winning city run at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Royce Simmons, the inspirational star of Penrith's 1991 premiership side who is now assistant coach of the high-flying NRL team Wests Tigers, has been instrumental in helping Nestor with his battle of the bulge.

"When I was living in Sydney I use to live around the corner from Royce and we became good friends," Nestor said.

"He helped me out a lot with training schedules as well as getting me in the right frame of mind.

"Even though I'm back in Dubbo now I still talk to Royce as often as I can."

Nestor, who has ridden three recent Sydney winners and has two rides for leading trainer Chris Waller on Saturday, will be firmly in the midweek spotlight on Wednesday when he partners rising country star Izababe.

Izababe is trained by his uncle Peter Nestor and the five-year-old will be making a highly-anticipated city debut after winning seven of his eight bush starts.

"He probably should be unbeaten," the apprentice said.

"At the moment he thinks racing is all a big game but he is untapped and he's definitely a Saturday-class horse down the track."

Nestor took a short break from racing after a stint with Warwick Farm trainer Guy Walter.

During his absence from the saddle his weight ballooned to 70kg but a positive mindset allowed him to shed 13kg in next to no time.

"It's a matter of keeping my bum up and head down," the 19-year-old said.

"I go to the gym twice a day when I'm not riding and my weight is fairly stable at around 56 kilos."

Nestor said he was so committed to a career in the saddle that he was almost certain to return to a city base before the end of the year.

"Racing is the only thing I really know," he said.

"In summer I'm hoping to head back to Sydney after I come out of my time in October."