St George Illawarra captain Ben Hornby looms as a possible halfback solution for NSW Country with frontrunners Jarrod Mullen and Trent Barrett both in doubt with injury for next Friday's representative clash with City.

The two teams are to be named on Sunday after the national selectors have picked their Australian team to play New Zealand on the same day.

Barrett chances slumped when he was forced out of Cronulla's NRL match against the Sydney Roosters on Saturday with a back complaint while Mullen is struggling with a shoulder injury that will require end of season surgery.

Mullen is still expected to play for Newcastle against Brisbane at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Saturday and square off with his main rival for the NSW State of Origin No.7 jersey Peter Wallace.

Wallace will be named City No.7 on Sunday ahead of NSW incumbent Mitchell Pearce while Mullen is facing a fight to win the Country starting position from in-form Hornby.

Teammate Jamie Soward has been the star of the Dragons' superb start to the season and while there is a push for him to win a Country jersey it is former Test No.7 Hornby who selectors are more willing to gamble on for the clash in Orange on May 8.

Hornby was left out of the initial 40-man NSW Origin squad that met in Sydney during the week, but Country selector Jock Colley said they could easily pull someone from outside the Blues group.

"It's a bit of a guide," said Colley.

"We have no real idea on their (Australian) team yet. We have to hang on for that and for injuries over the weekend."

The knee injury to Brett Stewart has left a vacancy at fullback for the Country side and while Bulldog Luke Patten filled the position in 2002, Canberra rookie and under-20s star Josh Dugan could be a shock inclusion.

The forward packs of both sides will depend largely on the Kangaroos selections with all the NSW backrowers fighting for Australian honours.

The only NSW props coming under Test consideration are Manly's Brent Kite and the Dragons' Michael Weyman who are fighting for one bench position, leaving the other to play for NSW Country.

NSW City have no such luxury with the Wests Tigers' Keith Galloway the only recognised front rower included in the Blues squad.

Former Test prop Joel Clinton should earn his fourth City Origin jumper and incumbent Bryce Gibbs of the Wests Tigers should hold his position.

South Sydney's Luke Stuart could be a bolter for a bench spot at the age of 32, although selectors are casting an eye across the younger front rowers in the game as they look to the future.

"Front row is certainly something we have to look at," said City selector Paul Walker.

"We have an ageing front row in the Australian team, we are looking at some young guys.

"Any of them are in the mix."

Likely teams:

NSW City: Jarryd Hayne, David Williams, Michael Jennings, Chris Lawrence, Colin Best, John Sutton, Peter Wallace, Keith Galloway, Robbie Farah, Joel Clinton, Ryan Hoffman, Trent Waterhouse, Luke Lewis. Interchange: Mitchell Pearce, Feleti Mateo, Bryce Gibbs, Mark Minichiello.

NSW Country: Luke Patten, James McManus, Jamie Lyon, Matt Cooper, Joel Monaghan, Terry Campese, Jarrod Mullen, Luke Bailey, Michael Ennis, Brent Kite, Ben Creagh, Anthony Tupou, Alan Tongue. Interchange: Josh Perry, Justin Poore, Chris Heighington, Ben Hornby.

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