Having watched him survive the most brutal of auditions, NSW selectors have handed teenager Mitchell Pearce a date he has always seemed destined to fulfil.

Pearce will follow in the footsteps of his father - former NSW captain and coach Wayne Pearce - in donning the sky blue after being named at halfback for next month's Origin decider at ANZ Stadium.

He will become the second youngest debutant in NSW history - behind club coach Brad Fittler - but will be in familiar company with Sydney Roosters teammate Braith Anasta earning a recall from Origin exile to partner him in the halves.

While his pedigree can not be questioned, his inexperience and a frame teammate Willie Mason describes as "a boy's body" can, with even his father questioning whether the recently turned 19-year-old was ready for Origin football.

If confidence has anything to do with it, the man known as `Junior junior' should kill it.

"It's probably come earlier than I thought, but I feel good," Pearce said.

"I'm confident in my footy at the moment ... it's a bit surreal at the moment, just being here and talking to all the media.

"I'm just rapt, it's going to be the biggest night of my life, I'm just looking forward to enjoying the week and being as prepared as I can."

"(Dad) and mum were in a bit of shock themselves, it makes you feel pretty good when you see your parents proud like that."

But Wayne Pearce, the only man to captain and coach NSW to series wins, wasn't certain the time was right for his boy to be selected.

"As I said before the series started, I would prefer to see him held back for 12 months," he said before the side was picked.

Coach Craig Bellamy too had his doubts.

Thankfully for him and the Blues selectors, Newcastle gave Pearce a taste of what he could expect in Origin III as they roughed him up in Sunday's NRL clash at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

"He got knocked down three or four times, came off battered and bruised and he won the game," Fittler said.

"One thing he doesn't lack is courage, if they try to run at him he will sit a few on their backside I think.

"If you're tough enough you're good enough. He is tougher than most players playing at the moment."

While he seems a natural fit in the NSW No.7 jumper, it took a series of events for his elevation to occur.

First incumbent Peter Wallace - hailed as the longterm halfback solution after a commanding debut in game one - was ruled out with injury. Wallace underwent surgery to repair a ruptured testicle after game two.

"He can't do anything strenuous until Sunday, he can't even go to the gym," NSW selector Bob McCarthy said.

"There was just too much risk in it."

Then Greg Bird was ruled out, resulting in a recall for Anasta at five-eighth, with Pearce the logical choice at halfback given their club combination.

But Bellamy claimed their Roosters partnership was not the deciding factor.

"Even if they were playing for separate clubs it would still be the same halves combination in this situation," Bellamy said.

"Braith, he was so close to first one anyway, he is a wonderfully talented player and Mitchell is obviously a wonderfully talented player as well just without that experience."

Anasta claimed he was better prepared for Origin than at any stage in his nine-game NSW career, his last of which was in game two of last year's series.

"My form the last probably 12 months has been the best I've played my whole career," he said.

"It's the best I've played leading into an Origin series so it's going to be my best opportunity for me to produce."

While Queensland named an unchanged squad, the Blues were forced into making a few other adjustments.

Jarryd Hayne returned to the wing in place of Steve Turner while Joel Monaghan earned a debut in place of injured St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier.

Ben Cross was returned to the forward pack ahead of Knights teammate Steve Simpson.

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