Just two months ago, Premier Mike Baird thought it would be too hard for a new treasurer to be parachuted into the job to deliver the NSW budget.
"That would be ... a classical hospital pass," Mr Baird told reporters hours after replacing Barry O'Farrell as premier in April.
But Mr Baird eventually overcame his reluctance to let go of the treasury portfolio, deciding to hand the job to the young and relatively untested Andrew Constance.
Mr Constance is now days away from delivering his first budget.
Next Tuesday's budget isn't expected to include big-ticket spending announcements, given the tight fiscal environment and the recent federal funding cuts.
But with the election only ten months away, the budget will mark the start of the government's pitch to voters for another term.
Mr Constance will likely use his budget speech to highlight how the state's economy has improved since the coalition won office in 2011.
He'll likely point to NSW's improving housing market and strengthening jobs figures to show that the state's finances are in good hands.
The treasurer will also likely spruik the government's plan to partially sell off the state's electricity assets.
While there aren't expected to be any more details on the asset sale, Mr Constance will use his speech to repeat Mr Baird's claim that the $20 billion expected to be raised by the sale will help "transform" NSW by funding road and rail projects.
Opposition Leader John Robertson says the government will use the budget to position itself for next year's election.
"What we've seen in the last week is a premier whose only focus is on the election in March 2015," he told AAP.
He urged voters to look at the fine details on any new infrastructure announcements, saying none of it would be "real work or substantial announcements".
