Ricky Stuart returns to State of Origin battle with a task far removed from the one he successfully completed for NSW in 2005.

The last Blues coach to have tasted a series victory, Stuart inherited a very different beast six years ago.

NSW were on a roll. Under Origin supercoach Phil Gould they had won the preceding two series and they drew the one before that.

They were blessed with a nucleus that included halfback great Andrew Johns, partner in crime Danny Buderus, Anthony Minichiello in his prime and made-for-Origin Ben Kennedy.

But that was a long time ago. Think Luke Rooney on the wing.

This year's series is about Stuart rebuilding the Blues from scratch.

A sweeping review of their five years of failure instigated big changes.

Selectors were abolished and a full-time coach appointed, with Stuart allowed to pick the men he wanted and given the time to build the confidence of the others he might need.

Debuting fullback Josh Dugan says Stuart has called him every week this year to discuss his progress.

The new coach argued forcefully for the team he and adviser Bob Fulton picked for next Wednesday's Origin I.

Stuart wants to build another core of players capable of dominating, and he'll learn a lot more about whether he's on the right track at Suncorp Stadium.

Only centre Mark Gasnier and backrowers Paul Gallen and Greg Bird have proved to be consistent Origin performers while another, Jarryd Hayne, was left out of the side for game one.

Stuart is desperately hoping Dugan, Jamie Soward, Mitchell Pearce, Kade Snowden and Michael Ennis can join them, and almost certainly that Dally M medallist Todd Carney can get his career back on track to throw his hat into the ring.

The pragmatist in Stuart would at least be thinking his seven St George Illawarra players might bring the winning knowledge they've acquired under Wayne Bennett.

"It's going to take a long time to get where Queensland is," Stuart said.

"We're not looking at that, we're just looking at short-term ... preparing for one game.

"It's my job to worry about the future and it's also a player's performance on the football field that helps you predict the future a lot quicker.

"That's how you create a core around your football team, by performances on the field, players showing you that they can handle Origin football."

The Blues will hope chinks are finally appearing in Mal Meninga's all-conquering Queensland.

For a day there they almost became the issue when Test centres Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges were ruled out of Origin I.

Hodges' replacement Willie Tonga is a seasoned campaigner while Inglis' substitute, Dane Nielson, will aim to continue a long Maroons tradition of rising to the occasion.

That could be made easier by the extra motivation from captain Darren Lockyer playing his last series.

"A Queensland side, it is not about individuals," insisted Meninga. But Lockyer is no ordinary individual.

With their injuries, Queensland might just look a little less formidable to a NSW side that will take five debutants to the former Lang Park, the Temple of Origin.

Dugan, Akuila Uate, Soward, Trent Merrin and Dean Young will emerge as Blues saviours or sacrificial lambs.

"There's no mental scarring for me because I haven't played before and haven't gotten beat," Young said.

By 10pm next Wednesday night, he, Stuart and the rest of the rugby league world will know more.

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