Blues coach Brad Fittler says his team's structures won't change much with Cody Walker replacing Luke Keary at five-eighth because the pair have similar strengths.
Keary has been relegated to the reserves following an 18-14 loss to Queensland on debut last Wednesday. Walker played the final 19 minutes off the interchange as they chased points in Adelaide.
Asked about the decision to drop Keary in the do-or-die clash, Fittler alluded to a horses-for-courses strategy as the electric Walker has consistently dominated at ANZ Stadium for the Rabbitohs.
"We're on his home ground and he's been incredible there this year," Fittler said of Walker.
"That's the bloke that I think will play best in game two. That was the reason … Him and Luke are very similar. They're very good at certain things and a lot of them are the same."
'It's Cody's occasion': Fittler reveals why he picked Walker
The pivot will partner Nathan Cleary, who has come under fire for his game one performance despite a sensational NRL season, at the scrum-base.
Fittler noted that Walker is a left-footed kicker and a "left player", which could help Cleary given he is the opposite. By and large, though, Fittler insisted NSW won't do a lot differently.
"I think everyone attacks the same these days. With the new rules and the way they are everyone hits the same line," Fittler said.
"They are pretty good at reading how many defenders and stuff. They know, so they know how to defend it and they'll know how Queensland play, so it's just a matter of doing it when they are tired."
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 2 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
The two-time series-winning coach believes it was "pretty obvious where we fell short" in the opener and feels "like we've got answers and we can play better". He said not forcing enough pressure through completed sets was one fault.
"[We] got away from just wanting to get involved in the real heavy grind," he added. "Once the second half came, I just realised we hadn't taken enough energy out of them. But we got to the end of the game, we finished on their try-line. That happens.
"You don't want to keep learning from losing … Sometimes you forget the most important things are pretty boring. It's a pretty dull game … The focus might have been on other things."
The Blues must fight back without inspirational captain Boyd Cordner, who on Friday withdrew from the remainder of the series after the latest in a long line of head knocks.
Fullback James Tedesco has taken over as skipper.
Blues 'get on with it' after Cordner's emotional exit
"It was a pretty emotional couple of hours," Fittler said of Cordner's decision to leave camp.
"And I am sure the whole post-game for him, he would have been quite aware [of the situation]. It's tough, but that's the game and that's where he is at the moment. He knows he needs to go have a rest. We just communicated through the day [on Friday]. He spoke to the people he needed to.
"I'm not a doctor. I am a good friend and a coach but there are other people who make those decisions. Boyd is part of that decision-making. We trust him."
Game two tickets start from $45 for members and $49 for general public or get your wig and experience the Blatchy’s effect from $85 for members or $90 for the general public
