Cody Walker admits he will be a little bit heartbroken if dropped by NSW for State of Origin II as he get set to become the latest victim of the Blues' halves revolving door.
The South Sydney five-eighth is widely tipped to be left out of coach Brad Fittler's side for game two when it is announced on Sunday evening.
In his place, Newcastle's Mitchell Pearce is expected to receive a recall to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves.
If it is the case, the Pearce-Cleary combo will represent NSW's 22nd halves pairing since 2006 during which time the Blues have won just two series to Queensland's 11.
In that same period, the Maroons have deployed just 10 different halves pairings and Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett said he couldn't fathom dropping Walker after just one Origin appearance.
"It's an arena I want to be in. I just have to wait and see if I get the call. We'll see what happens," Walker said after South Sydney's 19-18 loss to Penrith.
Asked about the prospect of being axed, an up-front and honest Walker said: "It will be a little bit heartbreaking. But it is what it is. You live and you learn."
Walker said he failed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck during the Rabbitohs' one-point defeat to the Panthers at ANZ Stadium after he missed a field goal attempt with five minutes remaining.
After the ball trickled dead, handing the Panthers a seven-tackle set, James Maloney booted the match-winner up the other end.
Walker looked unsettled as he lined up the field goal attempt and asked if he was in position and ready for the shot, he said: "Not really. I thought we had a fair bit of time to roll it in.
"And me and Cookie (hooker Damien Cook) looked at each other. I know he wanted a field goal.
"I started putting myself in position. Those sorts of things I need to be nailing. I gave them a seven-tackle set and James Maloney slotted it."
