The selection of Klemmer, Fifita, St George Illawarra forward Trent Merrin and Sydney Roosters second-rower Boyd Cordner will provide NSW with energy and size from the bench. Back in the Blues team: Andrew Fifita. Besides the omission of Lewis after 17 Origins and his appearance just two weeks ago in the Anzac Test, the biggest talking points will be the selection of Pearce at the expense of out-of-sorts Canterbury five-eighth Josh Reynolds and Jackson replacing the injured Gallen in the starting line-up. It is understood Daley had initially intended to start with Merrin at lock but believes the Dragons star will provide impact off the bench, where he has started all of his previous 10 Origins. Daley had wanted to stay loyal to the players who won last year's series but he could not justify the selection of Reynolds and Parramatta veteran Anthony Watmough, while there had been questions about the form of Lewis before his starring role in the Sharks' 23-22 golden point win over Gold Coast last Saturday night.

There were also doubts about whether Lewis could train from the start of the camp in Coffs Harbour and after ruling out Gallen for that reason last week Daley has made it clear he expects the entire squad on the training paddock from Wednesday. The return: Mitchell Pearce has earned a recall in the NSW halves. Credit:Cameron Spencer Despite criticism of the form of halfback Trent Hodkinson, Daley had made it clear he would stick with the player whose solo try secured NSW the 6-4 win in Origin II that clinched the series but Reynolds blew his chances with an ill-disciplined performance in the City-Country match that resulted in his sixth judiciary charge in less than 12 months. Pearce had been his fallback option but concerns over the defence of James Maloney, who leads the NRL for both the number and percentage of missed tackles, meant that reverting to the Roosters and 2013 Origin halves pairing was never seriously considered. Changing of the guard: Kangaroos veteran Luke Lewis will be omitted from the NSW squad. Credit:Getty Images

In Pearce and Hodkinson, the Blues have two big halves who are considered good defenders and they will play on either side of the ruck. They also complement each other in that Pearce takes the ball to the line more than most playmakers, while Hodkinson has one of the best kicking games in the NRL. St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan will replace Jarryd Hayne at fullback after playing centre in Origin II and III last season, while the Roosters duo of Michael Jennings and winger Daniel Tupou will again form the left side centre/wing combination and Josh Morris and Will Hopoate are the right side pairing. ​Hooker Robbie Farah replaces Gallen as captain, while his Wests Tigers teammate Aaron Woods and North Queensland prop James Tamou are the starting front-rowers. ​Newcastle enforcer Beau Scott and Warriors veteran Ryan Hoffman, last year's NSW player of the series, will again pack down in the second row.