UNTIL he received the shock call from NSWRL officials yesterday morning, James Tedesco wasn't even sure whether he was eligible to represent City or Country.

And while Tigers teammate Curtis Sironen was sure of his City roots, he was eyeing off a less illustrious call-up to the NSW under-20s side until receiving a surprise call of his own an hour later.



In the most unexpected double selection in the concept's recent history, the pair of 20-year-olds will line-up together in Sunday's NSW Origin selection trial against in Coffs Harbour.



With just four NRL appearances to his credit, Tedesco is the most inexperienced player to ever wear a senior City jersey, and was overlooked for every state and Australian schoolboys representative team as a junior.



Sironen (seven games) sits equal third on that list.



The close mates have also shared a virtually identical path, recovering from season-ending injuries in 2012, spending hours in rehab together.



They even arrived at City's camp in the same car after Sironen was rushed into the side when Josh Reynolds was ruled out around midday.



"When they called me up, I thought it was a joke," Tedesco said. "Even when Brad Fittler got on the phone I didn't think it was real.



"It was also a problem, because I didn't know whether I was eligible for City or Country.



"I played half my juniors playing (with Camden) in Group 6, before I moved."



Sironen was selected after his lone appearance in first grade this season, called into last week's Tigers line-up to replace Benji Marshall.



"I was actually looking to get selected in the NSW under-20s," he said. "I'm a bit nervous, but at the same time pretty excited. James and I have always been close mates and always talked about playing first grade together. Last weekend was the first time we even did that."

REVISED CITY TEAM: James Tedesco, Nathan Merritt, Michael Jennings, Joel Reddy, Jorge Taufua, Curtis Sironen, Adam Reynolds, Tim Grant, Nathan Peats, Tim Mannah, Tony Williams, Ryan Hoffman, Feleti Mateo. Interchange: Wade Graham, Andrew Fifita, Tom Symonds, Tim Grant. Jamie Buhrer (18th man).



