The clash between Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne and Roosters counterpart Michael Jennings will assume great significance on Saturday as an NSW centre position is up for grabs.

Canterbury's Josh Morris is assured of one centre spot for the opening Origin encounter at Suncorp Stadium but Jennings is under pressure to retain his. Blues coach Laurie Daley has indicated that Hayne has outgrown the wing, where he has starred in previous interstate campaigns, and will be considered at fullback or centre. Dragons custodian Josh Dugan and Manly's Brett Stewart could also come into the frame for the No.1 jersey.

"Josh was a part of the team last year and was closer to being our player of the series in those two games," Daley said. "He's a talented player and someone who has excelled at that level."

"Jarryd Hayne is a guy who has never let NSW down in the past and I would think that the decision we have to make is whether we play Jarryd as a fullback or Jarryd in the centres where he played successfully in Australia and likely may play as a centre in the Anzac Test in a couple of weeks.

"It's a good position to be in knowing you've got those guys playing well at their club and can handle different positions at Origin level. It's just a matter of us trying to get that right mix with the balance and best suits your team."

Another selection conundrum for Daley is the five-eighth spot. Rooster James Maloney is the incumbent while Canterbury's Josh Reynolds is applying pressure after a strong start to the year.

"James was part of the team last year and obviously you like to have some stability in your key positions," Daley told nswrl.com.au. "James, while he hasn't been at his best this year, I believe in the next couple of weeks he'll start to show us the form he displayed last year and the form which catapulted him into Origin I.

"Josh Reynolds, I couldn't be more impressed with the way he's gone about it. He has improved as a footballer. He's a guy who is very competitive. We blooded him in last year's series and he's just taken the bit between the teeth and is playing at a new level.

"For us that's good but we want other guys like Todd Carney to be playing some good football a couple of weeks back from injury and starting to put pressure on everyone. We need people that are going to be selected playing well, in form and going into the Origin series very confident."