Sydney Roosters second-rower Boyd Cordner will strengthen his chances of retaining his NSW State of Origin jumper when he runs out in Sunday's City-Country clash.
Just two weeks after returning from a pectoral injury, Cordner will be the only Blues incumbent that will line up in the traditional Origin trial in Tamworth.
And while the fixture has lost its glow as a representative fixture, the 23-year-old still intends to use the occasion to prove to Blues coach Laurie Daley that is back to full health.
Daley has already laid out to Cordner what he needs to do to retain his jumper.
"I've been in contact with him with our catch-ups and his message was just to get back and play some footy," Cordner told AAP.
"I'm not going to lie and say that I'm not thinking about it. I definitely am.
"But my responsibility and my focus is on myself and the Roosters, first and foremost, trying to get our season back on track and get out there and play some consistent footy.
"I need to be playing some good footy to be any chance of being in the frame of selection."
Cordner made his Country debut in his breakout NRL season of 2013, when he also won a premiership with the Roosters and earned a Kangaroos call-up in their World Cup success.
Now he hopes it would bring the same type of success after this weekend.
"This jumper was the first stepping stone to a massive year that year," Cordner said.
"It represents the start of my footy career so hopefully I can have another good end to the year."
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