NSW selectors are on the lookout for a new sensation out wide after game one hero Mark Gasnier was all but ruled out of Origin II due to a hamstring injury.

The St George Illawarra skipper went down at training on Wednesday, with scans confirming the star centre would be out for 2-3 weeks due to a slight tear in his left hamstring.

The second Origin clash at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium is less than two weeks away, meaning Gasnier is next to no chance of taking his place in a NSW side looking to wrap up its first series win since 2005.

Gasnier would have been an automatic selection in the centres alongside club teammate Matt Cooper for game two after tearing the Maroons to shreds in NSW's 18-10 series-opening win at ANZ Stadium.

But his likely absence has left selectors with a new headache.

"It's a massive blow if he is out - he's the best centre in the world," NSW selector Bob McCarthy said.

"We'll just wait until Monday (when we get a medical report), there's no use speculating over who could come in."

Dragons coach Nathan Brown said the injury came as a result of an innocuous training drill.

"It was right at the start of the session, he just took a few strides and felt a twinge," Brown said.

"Gaz improves very quickly from his muscle strains, he's quite good like that ... hopefully for Gaz's sake he'll be fit for the Origin."

Gasnier's unavailability opens the door for an Origin recall for out-of-favour Manly centre Jamie Lyon, who played in the opening two games of last year's series before being dropped in favour of Matt King.

But with the Blues already 1-0 up and with nothing to lose heading to Suncorp Stadium, there may also be a temptation to look to the future.

Young Wests Tigers centre Chris Lawrence or even Canberra outside back Joel Monaghan could be blooded, given Gasnier is almost guaranteed to reclaim his spot for game three.

Game one winger Jarryd Hayne, another automatic selection, could also move into the centres, while Luke Lewis's recent shift to halfback at Penrith could cost the Origin I 18th man any chance of winning a fourth NSW jumper.

While Gasnier battles his injury demons, Cooper dispelled any long-term fears over his back injury.

But the newly re-signed Dragons centre admitted the bulging disc which had plagued him in recent months would continue to require careful management.

"I've got a bulging disc and it's just something I've got to manage with physio and rehab," said Cooper, who was forced to sit out the Dragons' 20-18 win over Manly last week as a result of the injury.

"It was just a tough ask (to back-up) two days after the Origin game, it just pulled up really stiff and I probably would have done a lot more damage if I'd played.

"I'm a bit worried about it but I can't go into a game thinking about it ... hopefully after the next game it pulls up sweet.

"Back injuries obviously aren't good ... I don't think it's going to be a career threatening injury, it's just something I've just got to manage after a game and keep on top of."

NSW selectors will sit down to name the side for the June 11 return bout on Tuesday.

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