HE may be the favourite to wear the no.7 jersey for NSW but it's back to fullback for Kurt Gidley this weekend.
While City-Country boasts three players who regularly perform scrum-feeding duties for their clubs, Newcastle's Gidley is tipped to usurp them all when the time comes to pick a Blues side for Origin I against Queensland on May 21.
But with Jarrod Mullen returning from injury, Gidley isn't even first choice halfback at EnergyAustralia Stadium. He will be custodian for the Knights against Gold Coast on Saturday.
"At the moment it's down to what's best for the team," Gidley said tonight. "It might be good to play in the position you're selected in but then again I don't know what selectors are thinking.
"I'm just looking forward to having a run after the bye and then playing in the Aussie team next Friday. This is what the coach thinks is best and it's fine with me. "
Danny Wicks, the scorer of a memorable long-range try in round six, joins the Knighhts starting side at the expense of Country's Ben Cross while Wes Naiqama goes to the centres and Adam MacDougall back to a six-man bench.
Gold Coast have named standbys for each of their representative stars, Mark Minichiello, Anthony Laffranchi and Brett Delaney.
An eight-man bench includes Kris Kahler, Ian Donnelly and Matt Cross.
The Warriors's season is on the brink, with a host of injuries ahead of Sunday's clash with Canberra. The fulltime squad has just 17 fit players.
A hand injury yesterday ruled out skipper Ruben Wiki while promising Sonny Fai (shoulder) has also been sidelined.
Steve Price, Wade McKinnon, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei and Patrick Ah Van were already unavailable.
Hard-working Micheal (Micheal) Luck takes over as skipper while Aidan Kirk comes onto the wing, Evarn Tuimavave joins the starting side and youngster Russell Packer gets a bench spot.
Canberra have captain Alan Tongue (quadriceps) and hooker Lincoln Withers (eye) back from injury. Winger Brett Kelly has also earnt a return to first grade.
Another kiwi in the wars is Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall. His replacement for Saturday night's clash with Brisbane is John Morris with Dene Halatau coming back into the starting side at hooker.
Coach Tim Sheens has named an eight man bench as he covers for three City-Country players.
Justin Hodges returns to the Brisbane starting side, in for Steve Michaels (knee) who is out for the season. Derrick Watkins makes up a five-man Broncos bench.
Country Origin centre Ben Harris faces an arduous few days after being named in the second row for North Queensland, to play South Sydney two days after his representative debut.
Ben Farrar partners Ashley Graham in the centres against South Sydney while Ben Vaeau is on a five-man bench.
Having been overlooked by Sydney Origin, Mark Riddell returns from a sternocalvicular injury for Parramatta against Penrith on Saturday night.
Geoff Daniela has grabbed a wing spot at the Panthers, with Luke Rooney demoted to an extended bench.
At the judiciary, Jacob Lillyman of North Queensland will on Wednesday night challenge a dangerous throw charge.
