Ryan Papenhuyzen has been ruled out with a calf strain from the NSW 21-man squad for Origin I while Storm teammate Dale Finucane has also been rested due the same injury.
James Tedesco, who is striving to overcome a knee injury, has been named at fullback, Luke Keary has won the race to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves ahead of Cody Walker, who has been chosen as the bench utility.
Roosters international Daniel Tupou got the nod to replace Blake Ferguson on the wing while Daniel Saifiti and Junior Paulo will be the starting props for Wednesday's series-opener against Queensland at the Adelaide Oval.
Clint Gutherson, who was named at centre but could switch to fullback if Tedesco is ruled out, insists he hasn't been disrupted by uncertainty around which position he may play on State of Origin debut.
NSW forward Jake Trbojevic didn't finish Thursday's training session at Morrie Breen Oval in Wyong and was seen with ice on his foot.
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 1 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Trbojevic assured NRL.com he'd merely "done enough kilometres for the day" and wasn't injured.
Papenhuyzen believes he will be fit for game two while Finucane was rested by Blues officials due to his calf issue and is also likely to be in the frame for the ANZ Stadium match on November 11.
Panthers trio Isaah Yeo, Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai, and Canberra winger Nick Cotric were also not selected from the 27-man squad in camp.
Gutherson trained at right centre but also spent time at fullback as Tedesco did his own rehab, namely shuttle runs along the sideline.
"Teddy seems pretty confident that he's going to play, but if he doesn’t and I get that opportunity I'll put my hand up and play the usual game that I do," Gutherson said.
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 1 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Blues is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Maroons is number 1 Alexander Brimson
-
Winger for Blues is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Maroons is number 2 Xavier Coates
-
Centre for Blues is number 3 Clinton GuthersonCentre for Maroons is number 4 Dane Gagai
-
Centre for Blues is number 4 Jack WightonCentre for Maroons is number 18 Kurt Capewell
-
Winger for Blues is number 5 Josh Addo-CarrWinger for Maroons is number 5 Phillip Sami
-
Five-Eighth for Blues is number 6 Luke KearyFive-Eighth for Maroons is number 6 Cameron Munster
-
Halfback for Blues is number 7 Nathan ClearyHalfback for Maroons is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans
Forwards
-
Prop for Blues is number 8 Daniel SaifitiProp for Maroons is number 8 Christian Welch
-
Hooker for Blues is number 9 Damien CookHooker for Maroons is number 9 Jake Friend
-
Prop for Blues is number 10 Junior PauloProp for Maroons is number 10 Josh Papalii
-
2nd Row for Blues is number 11 Boyd Cordner2nd Row for Maroons is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
-
2nd Row for Blues is number 12 Tyson Frizell2nd Row for Maroons is number 12 Coen Hess
-
Lock for Blues is number 13 Jake TrbojevicLock for Maroons is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Interchange
-
Interchange for Blues is number 14 Cody WalkerInterchange for Maroons is number 14 Ben Hunt
-
Interchange for Blues is number 15 Payne HaasInterchange for Maroons is number 15 Lindsay Collins
-
Interchange for Blues is number 16 Cameron MurrayInterchange for Maroons is number 16 Jai Arrow
-
Interchange for Blues is number 17 Angus CrichtonInterchange for Maroons is number 17 Jaydn Su'A
Match Officials
- Referee: Gerard Sutton
- Touch Judge: Chris Butler
- Touch Judge: Todd Smith
Last updated:
"There's a lot of quality players here that will make it a lot easier for me. It's not like you're going out there by yourself … I'll take any position."
The Eels captain said he would be "comfortable" lining up at centre despite not having officially started there since round 25, 2018.
"I played a lot of it throughout my career. A lot of it a few years ago, junior footy, school footy. I played all centres," he said.
He declared it would be "easy" to adapt to any late changes.
"You're a chance of playing Origin – if you can't get up for that, if you're not prepping for that, you shouldn't be here," Gutherson said.
"I'm just prepping the way I do every week. I'm pretty relaxed normally. Just cruising, getting through training."
At this stage, Gutherson is set to feature on the right edge outside Panthers playmaker Nathan Cleary, who he described as "one of the best defensive halves in the game".
"We had Tyson [Frizell in the second-row] there as well who's played a handful of Origins and Australia, so there's a lot of experience," he said.
Moments that matter: Legends recall Origin highlights
Trbojevic, who played junior representative football and first grade at Manly with Gutherson, believes the 26-year-old will be an asset anywhere in the backs.
"He's a great competitor. Very fit, very energetic," Trbojevic said.
"He's always pushing up, he's always around the football. If you watch him when he plays for Parramatta, he's having 30 touches every game because he just wants the ball.
"He's so fit and he puts himself in a position to get the ball. That’s one of his best traits."
Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr didn't train on the field on Thursday upon arriving from Queensland while Knights prop Daniel Saifiti completed separate fitness work to manage his workload.
Walker: Origin demotion knocked my confidence
Meanwhile, Trbojevic said he isn't fazed about starting or coming off the interchange.
Nor is he concerned with playing prop or lock, saying the only difference is whether he takes carries from kick-offs.
"I'm happy to do whatever - I've probably played most of my games for the Blues off the bench so I'm fine doing that," he said.
