Incumbent NSW hooker Michael Ennis has brushed aside any concerns his absence from the City-Country showdown could count against him as he eyes a match-up on chief rival Dean Young.

Ennis missed last Friday's clash in Albury with a rib injury, allowing City hooker Robbie Farah and Country replacement Ryan Hinchcliffe - who won the man of the match award, to press their claims.

But with reports claiming Young and Ennis are Blues coach Ricky Stuart's preferred options, this Friday's ANZ Stadium blockbuster between Canterbury and St George Illawarra could loom as the real trial.

"I've been there before and played for Country and I've played Origin a few times now so they certainly know the way I prepare myself for games," Ennis told reporters on Monday.

"Ricky at the end of the day will pick a guy that he wants to play his style and, if I'm that guy, that will be fantastic.

"If not I'll keep working towards being that person."

Ennis, who played all three State of Origin matches for NSW last year, downplayed the match-up with Young.

"I don't think it's important at all for Origin, I think it's important for the Bulldogs that I perform," the 27-year-old said.

"Dean and the Dragons and their whole unit are playing wonderful at the moment and rightly so that the majority of those guys are getting talked about for rep footy."

Ennis batted away questions about whether Stuart had been in contact with him but he did say he'd be a "hugely" better Origin player for his past experience.

"The Lockyers and the Civonicevas are wonderful at that level because they've been there for so long," he said.

"It's just something that you become accustomed to once you start to play it and ... there's nothing like playing Origin.

"I'm dying to get another chance but it's out of my hands."

Bulldogs team-mate Josh Morris did turn out for Country but was left disappointed with his performance after opposite centre Beau Champion stood him up for a try.

Morris, who is still undergoing physio after coming back from a knee injury, gets a second chance when he plays opposite Mark Gasnier on Friday night.

"You can feel down but obviously that's not going to help anyone's situation," Morris told AAP.

"Football's a week-to-week game and this week I've got a great centre in Mark Gasnier to test myself up against."

And Canterbury coach Kevin Moore backed Test debutant Jamal Idris to successfully switch to the left side if selected there for Origin after doing so for Australia when he replaced Greg Inglis.

"There's certain centres that are either left or right, then you've got blokes who can do a little bit of both," Moore said.

"Jamal obviously has played a lot of right because Josh plays a lot of left.

"But I've got no doubt that either player if selected on the other side can do it there."

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