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The battle to replace Gladys Berejiklian as NSW premier is heating up, with one senior cabinet minister throwing his hat in the ring and Australia's second longest-serving prime minister coming out in support of another.

Planning Minister Rob Stokes and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet have emerged as the top contenders for the position, but Attorney-General Mark Speakman is also considering a tilt.

Ms Berejiklian announced her resignation on Friday after the state's corruption watchdog disclosed the 51-year-old was under investigation for potential breaches of public trust.

She will remain premier until the Liberal Party elects a replacement, with Pittwater member Rob Stokes quick to stake his claim.

The 47-year-old - who has been described as a key ally of Ms Berejiklian - is the first cabinet minister to publicly announce he will contest the leadership, saying "many colleagues" had encouraged him to run.

"My track record during my time in public office makes me the best candidate to lead the NSW government," he said in a statement on Saturday.

"I have the right balance of experience, vision and integrity needed during this crucial time in our history, as we continue to respond to and recover from the pandemic."

Mr Stokes has promised to abide by the roadmap out of COVID-19 lockdown Ms Berejiklian unveiled only weeks ago.

Restrictions are due to ease across NSW gradually from October 11 after more than 15 weeks of lockdown for Greater Sydney.

Former prime minister John Howard is backing Dominic Perrottet as Ms Berejiklian's successor.

"A number of talented MPs have been suggested as her replacement (but) I hope that Dominic Perrottet becomes the new Liberal leader, and therefore the next premier of NSW," Mr Howard said in a statement.

"He has the intelligence, experience and commitment to reform that the state needs at this time."

Mr Perrottet, 39, has said he too enjoys support within the party, telling the ABC he has received "strong feedback" from his colleagues.

However a third cabinet heavyweight, Attorney-General Mark Speakman, has also indicated he will vie to become premier.

"I'm heartened by the encouragement I've received from colleagues to nominate and I'll have more to say tomorrow," the 61-year-old said in a statement.

Other possible candidates include Environment Minister Matt Kean, Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres and Transport Minister Andrew Constance.

Whoever succeeds Ms Berejiklian has a tough act to follow.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison led the tributes on Friday, lauding her "heroic" qualities, while Mr Howard said the state would grieve her departure.

Even state Opposition Leader Chris Minns declined to sink the boot in over her demise.

"There's plenty of time for politics ... once the pandemic is over," he said.

"I cannot fault her dedication and hard work on behalf of the people of NSW, particularly over the last 15 weeks.

"I'm sure that ... will not be forgotten."

Meanwhile supportive constituents have gathered outside Ms Berejiklian's home with flowers and balloons, while others put up handmade signs at her office reading "We love Gladys" and "Long live Gladys".

Ms Berejiklian's leadership endured bushfires, drought and storms, and she navigated COVID-19, but after four-and-a-half years in the top job, she could not escape the ICAC.

The anti-corruption watchdog says it is investigating whether she "exercised public functions" in a position of conflict given her secret five-year relationship with ex-MP Daryl Maguire, revealed at its hearings in late 2020.

Mr Maguire is accused of abusing his public office between 2012 and 2018.

A teary and at times angry Ms Berejiklian said on Friday she had "no option" other than to resign, but she continues to deny any wrongdoing.

She will also resign from parliament as soon as a by-election for her north Sydney seat of Willoughby can be held.

© AAP 2021

As the battle to replace Gladys Berejiklian as NSW premier begins, one of the top contenders has promised not to change the state's lockdown exit plan if elected by his peers.

Ms Berejiklian announced her resignation on Friday after the Independent Commission Against Corruption disclosed the 51-year-old was under investigation for potential breaches of public trust.

She will also resign from parliament as soon as a by-election for her north Sydney seat of Willoughby can be held.

Ms Berejiklian will remain premier until the Liberal Party elects a replacement.

Planning minister and Pittwater member Rob Stokes - who has been described as a key ally of Ms Berejiklian - wants that to be him.

The 46-year-old on Saturday said he'd been encouraged by the level of support from his party colleagues, many of who have urged him to nominate for leader.

"The NSW Liberal Party is blessed to have some very talented people in its ranks, who could all bring different qualities to the role of leader," he said in a statement.

"But I believe my track record during my time in public office makes me the best candidate to lead the NSW government.

"I have the right balance of experience, vision and integrity needed during this crucial time in our history, as we continue to respond to and recover from the pandemic."

Mr Stokes is expected to go up against frontrunner Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, who has told the ABC he has received "strong feedback" from his colleagues on the matter.

"I think Dom has strong claims to the job and he's putting them out there," Mr Stokes earlier on Saturday told the ABC.

"(But) I think I owe it to my community and to the people in NSW to at least provide them that choice," he told 7News.

Mr Stokes also praised Ms Berejiklian, expressing sadness over the end to her career and promising to abide by the roadmap out of lockdown that she unveiled only weeks ago.

Restrictions are due to ease across NSW gradually from October 11, after more than 15 weeks of lockdown for Greater Sydney in response to an outbreak of the Delta COVID-19 variant.

Other potential contenders include Environment Minister Matt Kean, Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres, Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Attorney-General Mark Speakman.

Whoever succeeds Ms Berejiklian has a tough act to follow.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison led the tributes on Friday, lauding her "heroic" qualities and saying she was a "dear friend" and trusted by the community.

Even state Opposition Leader Chris Minns on Saturday thanked the premier, declining to sink the boot into the Liberal party over her demise.

"There's plenty of time for politics... once the pandemic is over," he told reporters.

"I cannot fault her dedication and hard work on behalf of the people of NSW, particularly over the last 15 weeks.

"I'm sure that... will not be forgotten."

Meanwhile supportive constituents have gathered outside her home with flowers and balloons while others put up handmade signs at her office reading "We love Gladys" and "Long live Gladys".

Ms Berejiklian's leadership endured bushfires, drought and storms and she navigated COVID-19, but after four-and-a-half years in the top job, she couldn't beat the ICAC.

The anti-corruption watchdog says it is investigating whether she "exercised public functions" in a position of conflict given her secret five-year relationship with ex-MP Daryl Maguire, revealed at its hearings in late 2020.

Mr Maguire is accused of abusing his public office between 2012 and 2018.

A teary and at times angry Ms Berejiklian said on Friday she had "no option" other than to resign, but she continues to deny any wrongdoing.

© AAP 2021

NSW has reported 813 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and 10 deaths.

NSW Health's Jeremy McAnulty says 87.7 per cent of people aged 16 years and over have now received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 65.2 per cent of the state is fully inoculated.

"Thank you so much for coming forward to get vaccinated to protect yourself, your family and your communities," Dr McAnulty said on Saturday.

There are currently 1,005 COVID-19 patients in hospital in NSW, with 212 in intensive care units and 99 on ventilators.

Of the 10 deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday, four people were not vaccinated and five people had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

One man, who acquired his infection at Mount Druitt Hospital had received two doses. He had underlying health conditions.

The deaths take the toll for the current NSW outbreak to 362.

NSW Health on Saturday said it had detected virus fragments in sewage at Dareton in the far west, Dungog in the Hunter, Karuah on the mid coast, South Grafton in northern NSW and Bermagui on the south coast.

The town of Casino was placed into lockdown from midnight on Friday until October 11 when the rest of the state will begin reopening gradually.

The stay-at-home order applies to anyone who has been in Casino since September 24.

Meanwhile, non-urgent day surgery will recommence in NSW private health facilities on Tuesday as transmission rates continue to fall.

But non-urgent surgery at NSW public hospitals will remain postponed.

"This is to ensure we retain adequate system capacity, as well as patient, staff and public safety, for the delivery of healthcare services during the COVID-19 response," NSW Health said on Friday.

"Emergency surgery and urgent elective surgery will continue to be performed in public hospitals during this challenging period."

© AAP 2021