Despite concerns about Reynolds' form and discipline this season, Fairfax Media has been told that Blues coach Laurie Daley has not yet written him off and the 24-year-old will get one last chance to retain his Origin position when he returns from suspension for the Bulldogs clash with the Roosters.

If doubts over Reynolds persist then Pearce has emerged as the preferred option to partner Canterbury's Trent Hodkinson in the halves – and statistics compiled by Champion Data demonstrate why.

A year after being ranked 15th among halfbacks in the NRL, Pearce has returned to his best - as evidence by his man of the match performance in Friday night's 36-4 defeat of Wests Tigers - and is the form NSW playmaker ahead of Hodkinson, Reynolds, Roosters five-eighth James Maloney, South Sydney's Luke Keary and Canberra's Blake Austin.

According to statistics based on the opening eight rounds of NRL matches, Pearce has touched the ball more (424 times), run more (432m), offloaded more (13) and kicked further (2880m) than any other halfback or five-eighth in contention for the Blues, while only Maloney has had more try assists (7-6) and line-break assists (7-5).

But Daley and his advisers like the enthusiasm and energy that Reynolds provides to the team and will watch his match-up against Pearce closely before considering the make-up of a team affected by the absence of star players, doubts over others and concerns with the form of some members of the side which last season ended Queensland's eight-year Origin domination.

OUT

Greg Bird (suspended), Brett Morris (hamstring), Jarryd Hayne (San Francisco 49ers), Josh Mansour (ankle), Glenn Stewart (thumb).

IN DOUBT

Paul Gallen (glute), Josh Dugan (knee), Will Hopoate (hamstring), Matt Moylan (hand), Adam Reynolds (knee).

OUT OF FORM

Josh Reynolds, Anthony Watmough, Daniel Tupou, Tony Williams.

Daley has repeatedly stated he intends to remain loyal to those players who won the series last year, but only if their form is worthy of selection.

Just a week before the Blues team for Origin I is named, only centres Josh Morris and Michael Jennings, second-rowers Beau Scott and Ryan Hoffman, props Aaron Woods and James Tamou, hooker Robbie Farah and forward Trent Merrin can be considered certain selections.

Among the options being considered by Daley and his coaching staff are:

FULLBACK

Dugan will be one of the first players selected if fit and the St George Illawarra fullback will get to wear the No.1 jersey again, after last season playing opposite Greg Inglis at right centre in Origin II and III. Should Dugan be out, Moylan is considered a future Origin star and Daley will have no concerns calling on him after an impressive performance in last Sunday's City-Country clash, soured only by the Penrith star dislocating three fingers.

WINGS

Tupou played in all Origin matches last season, with Brett Morris the other winger in Origin I, Hopoate replacing him in Origin II and Newcastle's James McManus receiving a recall for Origin III as the injuries mounted up for NSW. With Tupou having all but secured his placewith his three try haul against Wests Tigers on Friday night, Daley must decide between Hopoate, McMannus and South Sydney's Alex Johnston, who made his Test debut in Australia's 26-12 loss to New Zealand last Sunday, for the other spot.

CENTRES

Only injury or suspension will prevent Morris and Jennings from being the NSW centre pairing. Souths centre Dylan Walker will be considered if one of the pair is unavailable, possibly along with Hopoate.

HALVES

Incumbency and goalkicking will ensure that Hodkinson retains the No.7 jersey, along with the fact that there is no obvious rival. Should the Blues lose the series opener at ANZ Stadium on May 27, Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds and Pearce will come under consideration. In the meantime, Pearce may get his chance at five-eighth but not even winning the man-of-the-match award for Country last Sunday is likely to get Maloney another shot at Origin as he ranks No.1 in the NRL for missed tackles (51) after the opening eight rounds of NRL matches.

BACK-ROWERS

​Scott will be the Blues enforcer, while Hoffman was the NSW player of the series last year so the pair are considered certainties. The same goes for Gallen if he is fit and Daley will give him as long as possible to prove his fitness. Other back-row options include Canterbury's Josh Jackson, who has played for Australia and was impressive for Country last Sunday, Roosters international Boyd Cordner, Cronulla veteran Luke Lewis, Dragons trio of Merrin, Tyson Frizzell and Joel Thompson and Watmough.

PROPS

Test props James Tamou and Aaron Woods have been in good form recently and are expected to start. If Gallen plays, there is likely to only be one prop on the interchange bench as both he and Merrin also play in the middle. Cronulla's Andrew Fifita is in line for a recall after being overlooked for last season's series, while Canterbury's David Klemmer is also under consideration.

HOOKER

Farah will captain the Blues if Gallen is ruled out. Paramatta's Nathan Peats and St George Illawarra's Mitch Rein are considered the next in line should Farah be out.

A possible NSW team is: Dugan; Tupou, Jennings, Morris, Hopoate; Pearce, Hodkinson; Woods, Farah, Tamou, Scott, Hoffman, Gallen (c); Lewis, Fifita, Merrin, Cordner.