The NSW team to be named next Tuesday is set to feature up to five changes from last year's State of Origin, with veteran forward Anthony Watmough tipped to join injured captain Paul Gallen, suspended backrower Greg Bird and NFL trialist Jarryd Hayne as spectators for the series opener.
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Will Hopoate will be on one wing ahead of Rabbitohs young Alex Johnston as long as he overcomes his hamstring injury while Canterbury forwards David Klemmer and Josh Jackson are in line to add a Blues jersey to the Australian ones they earned in last year's Four Nations tournament.
Sydney Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce is almost certain to be recalled at five-eighth after being overlooked for last year's series.
Gallen's decision to withdraw after being advised his nagging hip injury could become season ending if he aggravated it in Origin will hand the captaincy of the Blues to hooker Robbie Farah.
With Bird (16 Origins) serving an eight-match ban for a dangerous throw, Hayne (20 Origins) trying to win an NFL contract with San Francisco 49ers and winger Brett Morris (10 Origins) sidelined by a knee injury, the Blues will be missing 65 games of Origin appearance as Gallen has represented NSW on 19 occasions.
However, Blues coach Laurie Daley is understood to be considering further changes, including the axing of Watmough (14 Origins), and may select one of the most inexperienced NSW teams for years.
Such a move would represent a significant changing of the guard for NSW as Watmough (31), Gallen (33) and Bird (31) have formed the nucleus of the Blues forward pack since 2009.
Watmough has also been below-par this season since moving from Manly to Parramatta.
Lewis played in the 26-12 Anzac Test that enabled New Zealand to overtake Australia as the No.1 Test nation, according to the Rugby League International Federation rankings announced on Thursday, and despite his form for Cronulla since returning from a knee injury in round three being patchy, he is likely to get a spot on the bench..
Fellow veterans Beau Scott and Ryan Hoffman will maintain their places in the secondrow, with either Sydney Roosters back rower Boyd Cordner or St George Illawarra's Trent Merrin to start at lock.
Test props James Tamou and Aaron Woods will pack down with Farah in the frontrow.
Dragons fullback Josh Dugan has nailed down the No.1 jersey worn by Hayne last season, while Canterbury's Josh Morris will be right centre and the Sydney Roosters pair of Michael Jennings and Daniel Tupou will again form the left side centre-wing combination.
With 21 tries in 18 matches for Souths last year and seven tries in nine matches this season, Johnston has confirmed himself as one of the NRL's best wingers and he was rewarded with Test selection for Australia two weeks ago.
Gallen said he ruled himself out after meeting Daley on Friday to discuss his progress in recovering from a painful glute injury that has sidelined the Sharks forward for six weeks.
"Laurie and myself just decided it was best for the team and my health," Gallen said. "It's not 100 per cent healed."
Daley said he was hopeful Gallen would be available for Origin II.
"After talking, Gal and I decided it is in the best interests of the team to get the injury healed," Daley said. "It was a really difficult decision for us both to come to because Gal, as captain, is such an important part of our team, and he places such a high value on playing for NSW."
LIKELY NSW TEAM: Josh Dugan; Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Will Hopoate; Mitchell Pearce, Trent Hodkinson; Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah (c), James Tamou, Ryan Hoffman, Beau Scott, Trent Merrin. Interchange: Boyd Cordner, Josh Jackson, Luke Lewis, David Klemmer.
