League: Blues hope to salvage pride

New South Wales coach Craig Bellamy will take a win-at-all-costs approach to the selection table today in a bid to salvage some pride in what could be his final State of Origin game.

Bellamy said his only focus was denying Queensland a series clean-sweep at Suncorp Stadium.

Selection speculation has centred on whether NSW would pick their side for Origin III with one eye on next year's series, but for Bellamy it's all about improving his 1-4 record with the Blues.

And it's an attitude which looks set to re-ignite the Origin career of veteran half Brett Kimmorley, two years after his last appearance for NSW.

"It would be a selfish attitude if I'm not there next year but I just want to pick a side that will restore a little pride," Bellamy told ABC Radio.

"We were very ordinary for 10 minutes in the first game and less than ordinary in the second game for 20 minutes.

"In both games we were getting close to them at the end so those periods proved really critical for us.

"The second one was bordering on embarrassing with a couple of those tries."

Just how many of the 17 Blues players who lost Origin II will get a shot at redemption remains unclear, with every position under scrutiny.

The push for Jarryd Hayne at fullback continues to gather momentum, with Kurt Gidley a chance of being named at five-eighth.

Penrith flyer Michael Jennings all but guaranteed his Origin place with a scintillating hat-trick against Parramatta last night.

Jennings seems assured of regaining the spot he was denied by a calf injury in game two, with game one centre partner Jamie Lyon under massive pressure from Matt Cooper.

Veteran pivot Trent Barrett hasn't played since Origin II due to suspension.

His selection chances hinge on Gidley's final position and on who will wear the No 7 jumper, with Peter Wallace almost certain to be punted.

That man looms as Kimmorley, though Bellamy was giving little away.

"It's a tough situation - you're looking to put a halfback, well (all) your key positions, not only halfback - that are going to be there for a few years," Bellamy said.

"The way Brett (Kimmorley) has played this year, he's played sensationally well."

St George Illawarra livewire Jamie Soward again put his hand up with a man of the match performance against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night, but Blues assistant coach Andrew Johns called for selectors to ignore his claims for the time being.

"I still don't think he's ready - I think this year let him play semi-final football," Johns said.

"If he's playing this well, give him a shot next year.

"I just think the worry is his confidence in the past has been a bit brittle ... if he was to get a shot in the third Origin playing at the cauldron, there's no harder position to play and if he didn't have a great night, would Jamie Soward go back to square one? That's the worry."

The Blues options in the forwards continue to be decimated by injury, North Queensland backrower Luke O'Donnell the latest casualty after suffering a grade two medial ligament tear which is likely to result in a 4-6 week layoff.

Prop Michael Weyman (ankle) is another who is unavailable while Paul Gallen (shoulder) is in extreme doubt, and Canberra's man-mountain Tom Learoyd-Lahrs put his hopes for a first Blues jumper in doubt after being placed on report for lifting an elbow.

Test front-rower Brent Kite is believed to be struggling to hold onto his spot after being used sparingly in game two, his Manly teammate Josh Perry or Melbourne's Brett White to be catapulted straight into the starting side.

The dearth of viable options is set to see Cronulla tyro Luke Douglas given a shot at Origin football, while Gold Coast's Anthony Laffranchi is poised for an Origin recall.

Possible NSW side: Jarryd Hayne, Josh Morris, Michael Jennings, Matt Cooper, David Williams, Kurt Gidley (capt), Brett Kimmorley, Brett White, Robbie Farah, Justin Poore, Ben Creagh, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Craig Wing, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Luke Douglas, Anthony Laffranchi.

- AAP