Benny Elias has urged Brad Fittler to ignore Wests Tigers' horror start to the year and keep Api Koroisau in his NSW State of Origin jumper.
Koroisau started for the Blues in the final two games of last year as Fittler opted for an all-Penrith combination in the halves and at No.9, pushing Damien Cook to the bench.
But there are fears the hooker's move to the Tigers, who enter Sunday's clash with Manly at Campbelltown winless in the first six games, could come back to haunt Koroisau.
Fittler showed his hand last year when he dropped Josh Addo-Carr for the series, after the winger moved from Melbourne to a struggling Canterbury.
But former Balmain and Blues hooker Elias said Fittler should buck the trend with Koroisau.
"I had the joy of spending time in camp with him last year. And you talk about the bloke you need in State of Origin, Api certainly is that bloke," Elias told AAP.
"It's a different animal in Origin.You go from one environment to another and it's chalk and cheese."
Elias himself was NSW's hooker in 1994 after enduring a difficult start to the year at the Tigers before they claimed the wooden spoon.
He said Koroisau is in a similar position with the 30-year-old battling to leave his mark on a Tigers attack lacking confidence and cohesion.
"The environment he has with the State of Origin side, he can feel very comfortable with," Elias said.
"The people around him, he can feel very comfortable with. You can do it with authority.
"He can't do that authoritative stuff at the Tigers because we haven't won a game or or have that confidence.
"But all these blokes picked for the Blues, they have that confidence, arrogance and experience. They give him that energy and Api with his kind of talent will excel."
If picked, Koroisau will be the Tigers' first NSW representative in six years.
Koroisau was unfazed this week on whether he would suffer the same fate as Addo-Carr last year, having not yet spoken to Fittler.
"It is what it is. At the end of the day if I get picked, I get picked. If I don't, I don't," Koroisau said.
"The only thing that will get me picked for Origin is playing good footy for the Tigers.
"The Tigers are the priority. Getting picked is all secondary."
Koroisau will play in a new-look spine again on Sunday with debutant fullback Jahream Bula the club's fourth No.1 in seven games this year.
Elias did not want to be critical of coach Tim Sheens, but said his preference would have been to give Charlie Staines more time at fullback.
"Sometimes you have to grit your teeth, stay strong and believe in the people you have backed," Elias said.
"Rather than chopping and changing and waiting for a victory."
