With NSW hoping to name an unchanged line-up for the first time in over 20 years, Blues halfback Mitchell Pearce believes they must build further on their attacking combinations to seal a rare State of Origin series win.
The Blues are on Monday expected to name the same 17 that hammered Queensland in game one for the June 21 clash in Sydney, where they can clinch just their second series victory in 12 years.
It will mark the first time since 1996 that NSW have been able to enter a match with an unchanged team.
Back then current coach Laurie Daley was playing in the centres as the Blues whitewashed the Maroons, but Pearce said the successful combinations can't afford to remain stagnant heading into this week's camp.
"The way we play the combinations and the connection within the team gelled for us," Pearce said.
"But we've got to rebuild and recreate that again.
"Queensland are an absolute champion team, they've won 10 (of the last 11) series. And their players are some of the best of all time.
"So it's going to be a real fight."
While question marks still linger over the Maroons team based on form and possible suspension, there appears little uncertainty over the Blues' 17.
Daley will be sweating on the fitness of St George Illawarra backrower Tyson Frizell in Monday's clash with Canterbury after he suffered a minor rib injury last weekend.
Josh Dugan, Brett Morris, Josh Jackson and David Klemmer will also need to come through the game unscathed, with the Blues set to name their team immediately after fulltime.
Blues captain Boyd Cordner will also be included despite missing the Sydney Roosters' 40-18 win over the Wests Tigers on Sunday as he rested a chronic knee injury.
After being given nearly a week of training off from the Roosters, Cordner returned to the club on Friday still feeling the affects of back-to-back 80-minute performances against Queensland and Brisbane in just three days last week.
"He may have had to have four weeks off if we kept going on and on with it," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
But Robinson indicated the injury wouldn't threaten to rule him out of game two for the Blues.
"He got a knock on it with four minutes to go in the Origin and we saw how he played against Brisbane," Robinson said.
"But that hurt to back up those two games.
"He's strong enough, but he'll just need to go and get some strength training into it which he will get this week."
Predicted NSW side: James Tedesco, Blake Ferguson, Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Morris, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Aaron Woods, Nathan Peats, Andrew Fifita, Josh Jackson, Boyd Cordner (capt), Tyson Frizell. Bench: David Klemmer, Wade Graham, Jake Trbojevic, Jack Bird.
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