NSW coach Brad Fittler has made the brutal call to drop Josh Addo-Carr and hand Daniel Tupou a State of Origin recall as part of a plan to counteract Queensland's looming aerial threat.
Fittler unveiled his 22-man squad in alphabetical order for next week's series opener with Stephen Crichton and Kotoni Staggs both set to debut in the centres.
Parramatta backrower Ryan Matterson and Cronulla star Nicho Hynes also loom as debutants off the bench, with Jack Wighton to be demoted to the reserves and Angus Crichton overlooked.
Manly favourite Jake Trbojevic is missing for the first time when fit during Fittler's four-series reign, while Liam Martin is also only expected to be a reserve after playing all three games last year.
Instead, Tyson Frizell and Reagan Campbell-Gillard have both won back their Blues jerseys, with Tariq Sims also retained alongside Cameron Murray in the back row.
Fittler has also kept the faith in Payne Haas, confident he can put the distractions of his Brisbane contract dramas to the side for the Blues.
The majority of hard-luck stories revolved around players at battling clubs, with a knee injury also killing off Newcastle forward Daniel Saifiti's hopes.
But it is former Melbourne-turned-Canterbury flyer Addo-Carr who can consider himself the unluckiest man, given he has scored 10 tries in 12 games for NSW and sits second all-time for the state.
Ultimately though, Fittler needed an answer to Queensland's high-flying wingers Xavier Coates and Selwyn Cobbo, assuming they are picked.
And at 196cm, Tupou is seen as just that while also acting as an aerial target himself for Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary.
The Panthers will again have the most picks in the 17-man team with five, with Brian To'o the one winger retained and joining Cleary, Crichton, Jarome Luai and Isaah Yeo in the side.
Martin and Apisai Koroisau are also in the 22-man squad and likely to act as reserves, with the latter there as back up for first-choice hooker Damien Cook.
Sydney Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii will also be given experience in camp as part of the 22-man squad alongside Jacob Saifiti, with reserves to be let back to their clubs to play next weekend.
EXPECTED NSW TEAM FOR STATE OF ORIGIN OPENER*:
James Tedesco (c), Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton, Kotoni Staggs, Daniel Tupou, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Junior Paulo, Damien Cook, Payne Haas, Tariq Sims, Cameron Murray Isaah Yeo.
Bench: Nicho Hynes, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Ryan Matterson, Tyson Frizell.
Reserves: Jack Wighton, Apisai Koroisau, Joseph Suaalii, Liam Martin, Jacob Saifiti.
* All players named in 22-man squad.