Nathan Merritt has waited long enough for the chance to press his State of Origin claims in rep footy and he intends to make sure it isn't wasted in Friday's NSW City-Country Origin match in Albury.

The 27-year-old South Sydney winger's selection for City this week was his first, with his only previous representative appearances coming for the Indigenous All Stars and Prime Minister's XIII sides.

Boasting an impressive record at club level, with 107 tries in 167 NRL games, Merritt admits it's been a long wait but he plans to use Friday's match as a platform to push his claims for the vacant NSW State of Origin wing spot.

"It's been a long career and it's been a long time coming but I'm really looking forward to the challenge on Friday night. I'm just going to get out there and enjoy it," Merritt told AAP.

"If there's a vacant (Origin wing) spot, I'm definitely going to put my hand up and try my hardest and play as well as I can."

While the likes of Brett Morris, Michael Gordon and Akuila Uate are likely ahead of Merritt on the pecking order of NSW wingers, the speedster did not believe he was out of the mix.

"Who knows what can happen," Merritt said.

"There's three Origin games so you've just got to try hard.

"All the boys are here to do their best and enjoy it but it's obviously also about Origin selection and impressing (NSW coach) Ricky Stuart as well.

"It's going to be a great challenge for me being in a rep side."

City Origin coach Brad Fittler held a brief, light training run at Coogee on Tuesday morning, with the squad's first real hit out set for Tuesday afternoon.

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