NSW coach Laurie Daley has all but ruled out picking Canberra halves Aidan Sezer and Blake Austin because of their lack of big-game experience.
The Raiders playmakers have been touted as a possible Blues pairing for this year's State of Origin series with Immortal Andrew Johns calling for them to be ushered into the line up.
However the NSW mentor appears less than certain on the suggestion.
"You have to realise these two guys have never played in a big game," Daley said on Fox Sports' NRL 360.
"They're 25 years of age and they haven't taken their teams to semi-finals, so we can't judge them on the big stage, all we can do is judge them on what they're doing at the moment and that's a critical component of the make up of your Origin team.
"You can't pick someone in a critical position and be hoping they're going to get it right on the night."
Daley has a headache on his hands with big question marks over his incumbents Mitchell Pearce and Trent Hodkinson ahead of the June 1 series opener at ANZ Stadium.
Sydney Roosters' Pearce is serving a suspension for his Australia Day disgrace and will have just three games to make his case upon his return in round nine.
Top contender South Sydney No.7 Adam Reynolds is out with a broken jaw but is expected to return in time for a head-to-head duel with North Queensland's Johnathan Thurston next week.
However while Hodkinson's Newcastle Knights are winless after five rounds, Daley has given his strongest hint yet that he may be reunited with his former Canterbury halves partner Josh Reynolds to replicate the pairing that helped NSW to their 2014 series success.
"I know Trent, he is very reliable," Daley told News Corp Australia.
"You know you're going to get. With Grubby (Reynolds), he has been there and won a series. He would bring plenty of energy."
Meanwhile, Daley also confirmed that while St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan would definitely be in the team, there was no guarantee he would wear the No.1 jersey,
"As long as he is playing well, I'll have no hesitation finding a position for him," he said.
"There is a lot of competition for outside spots.
"If Duges plays out of position, that may mean someone else misses out. We'll see."
Such a move would suggest current centres Josh Morris and Michael Jennings are under pressure to keep their spots.
