Friday is D-day for NSW with Origin coach Laurie Daley set to make some tough decisions on his halves and on injured Blues skipper Paul Gallen.
The Maroons will also sign off on fullback Darius Boyd returning to Origin action in game one on May 27 in Sydney provided he gets through Friday's NRL clash between Brisbane and the Cowboys.
The Bulldogs and Roosters meet on Friday night at ANZ Stadium where NSW halves contenders and in-form Roosters pair James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce take on out-of-form Canterbury duo Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson.
NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley said on Wednesday that while he felt he knew which two players he wanted, the NRL match would firm up his decision ahead of the announcement next Tuesday.
"In my own mind I know who I want to run out there with and this weekend gives me an opportunity to make sure and confirm that that's the right way to go," Daley said.
In the past he has preferred a club combination, but Daley said he was open to splitting a duo.
"All options are on the table and I will keep that to myself at this stage."
Daley said he would meet with Gallen on Friday to decide whether the injured Blues skipper will lead the charge in game one.
Gallen is still troubled by a hip/gluteal injury, putting in him major doubt for the series opener.
"I spoke to Gall on Monday and he still hasn't been able to do a lot of running," Daley said on Wednesday in Melbourne.
"That's something we have to have another talk about probably on Friday to see how he's travelling and we will probably have a really good indication of where he's at once we have that discussion."
Gallen won't play in the Sharks' clash with Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon which didn't bother Daley, who said he just needed to be able to train when they went into camp.
The absence of the suspended Greg Bird and possibly Gallen will open the way for the Blues to inject some young blood in the forward pack.
"If those guys don't play more than likely a couple of the younger guys will get a chance," Daley said.
Maroons coach Mal Meninga was also at the MCG to promote game two on June 17 and said his side pretty much picked itself.
"There won't be too many surprises," Meninga said.
"We've always been reasonably settled with the loyalty program around how we make our selections."
The coach was pleased to be able to call on Boyd, who played his first match last round after a pre-season Achilles injury.
"I was very excited about it as I didn't expect it," Meninga said.
"He's got one more game for the Broncs against the Cowboys and we hope he gets through it and if he does he'll be picked."
Meninga said his team was hungry to avenge last year's 2-1 series defeat after eight consecutive years of success.
"We're going to prepare as we prepared for game three last year," he said.
"Hopefully everyone will get through fit and healthy and we will get a full week's training.
"That's what occurred in game three and we got the result because of that."
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