Saukuru scored two tries on his NRL debut against St George Illawarra last week but was unable to stop Benji Marshall's men falling to an eighth straight defeat.
The 21-year-old centre earned his shot at the top level after scoring 20 tries in the NSW Cup and overcoming a heart scare in the pre-season which caused him to balloon in weight.
Saukuru was diagnosed with pericarditis, a swelling of the tissues around the heart which causes shortness of breath and stabbing pains in the chest.
"When I came back from playing for Fiji I was pretty crook," said Saukuru.
"I had fluid around the heart … I had a few weeks off training.
"It was actually at my first training back where I had chest pain and I told the doctors here who sent me to get a scan.
"You just have to chill and can't get the heart rate high."
Forbidden from exercise as he recovered, Saukuru found it easy to pile on the pounds.
The Tigers' website lists his weight as 115kg which Saukuru disputes, claiming he started the season at 109kg before dropping to the more slender frame of 102kg.
'At the start of the season I wasn't quite hitting those standards, and I'd say now I've hit them," said the centre, who has been named to play against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
"I'd just eat whatever's in front of me … now I lay off the carbs.
"It just makes it easier and makes me feel light, I can do things now that I couldn't before."
Saukuru hopes to represent Fiji at this year's World Cup and is relishing the chance to test himself on Sunday against Robert Toia, who has quickly become one of the NRL's most devastating centres.
"It'll be tough, I made Australian schoolboys with him - he's a funny bloke," Saukuru added.
Meanwhile, Roosters coach Trent Robinson has confirmed fullback James Tedesco will be put on ice for a third-straight week with an ankle injury.
Robinson was hopeful the Roosters captain would return for next week's clash with fellow top-four contenders the Dolphins.
"It's been a bit frustrating for Ted, we've named him each week but he's not right to play this week," Robinson said.
"He's progressed quite well but it's more niggling than what we thought."
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