Apisai Koroisau is set to emerge as the unlucky man from NSW's State of Origin selection table, as the Blues lean towards debuting Nicho Hynes off the bench.
NSW will confirm their team for Origin I on Monday morning, with several question marks still surrounding their backline ahead of Sunday afternoon's game.
A key decision is what to do with the dummy-half role, after Koroisau and Damien Cook shared the duties last year.
There had been a thought that the Blues could stick with that plan for this series, however the form of Hynes has made him an irresistible pick at No.14.
That will likely leave Koroisau as the odd man out, with Blues coach Brad Fittler expected to name Cook at No.9.
Koroisau could not have done more in his last-ditch push to retain his NSW No.9 jumper on Saturday night, starring in Wests Tigers' big 66-18 win over North Queensland.
The hooker threw the last pass for three tries, including a deft ball for Stefano Utoikumanu to cross and a wrap-around play for Junior Tupou to bag another one.
It prompted Tigers coach Tim Sheens to declare he would pick Koroisau as starting hooker for NSW after wearing the No.9 jersey in the final two games of last year.
Koroisau had also hoped he would be able to reignite his combinations with halves Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and lock Isaah Yeo in Origin, which had loomed as his biggest advantage.
"You spend a few years with them, so the combination thing would be pretty easy I think," Koroisau said.
But ultimately it will not be enough, with Cook's ability to play 80 minutes all of this season set to be enough to see him claim the dummy-half role.
Fittler also has decisions to make in the backline with Tom Trbojevic, Josh Addo-Carr and Campbell Graham fighting over a wing and centre spot.
Winger Addo-Carr will make his comeback from syndesmosis surgery against Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon for Canterbury.
Trbojevic is likely to be backed in to play centre, but there is a desire from some at the Blues to see him running at full speed before he is thrust into Origin.
In the forward pack, NSW are sweating on Jake Trbojevic getting through his return from a calf injury for Manly against Canberra.
The Blues are expected to prioritise experience in the pack, with Tyson Frizell also a chance of a recall after last playing Origin in 2020.
