Canberra's Jarrod Croker is still stunned after a comment from league great Andrew Johns that he could be the answer to the NSW State of Origin side's centre crisis.

Johns made the comment before the shock selection of Will Hopoate as the replacement for the injured Michael Jennings for Origin II.

Hopoate joined Jennings in the Blues' casualty ward after suffering a torn hamstring against Queensland, heightening NSW coach Ricky Stuart's anxious search for a left centre for next month's Suncorp Stadium decider.

Stuart has struggled with the lack of depth in the position after Matt Cooper's retirement from representative football, Chris Lawrence's serious hip injury and Josh Morris' indifferent form.

Jennings is no certainty to have recovered from an ankle injury in time for the July 6 showdown, while Stuart has repeatedly resisted the urge to shift a right centre such as Jamal Idris to the other side of the park.

Left winger Jarryd Hayne is looking the most likely to mark Justin Hodges in one of the most important games in the Blues' history.

Talented youngster Croker is a genuine left-side player who was an integral part of the Raiders' charge to last year's finals series.

"I didn't hear it from the bat but I have heard off a few people that that was mentioned," the 20-year-old said of the Johns remark. "I'm not looking to do that.

"That's an amazing compliment and even to be thought of by someone of the calibre of Joey Johns, that's an unreal feeling, but I'm just thinking about getting some wins up for the Raiders.

"When you start winning games, that's when players start getting into rep teams."

But 93kg Croker is taking heart from Jennings' starring role in game one, a performance which silenced those who had doubted 94kg Jennings' ability to handle Origin football.

"Jennings was one of the best players in the NSW team in game one," Croker said.

"I don't think size is a problem.

"It's not the size ofthe dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog is the old saying."

Canterbury's Morris, who played two games for NSW in 2009, gets a final chance to impress in Friday night's crucial clash with the Wests Tigers.

Bulldogs teammate and Blues hooker Michael Ennis said Morris' experience could help NSW.

"Josh has been there before and I played with Josh in 2009 when we won up at Suncorp, so there's no doubt he can handle that level," Ennis said.

"I think Josh would be really happy to have a win on Friday night and I think if we can do that, that will press his claims as well."

Croker is not expecting anything when Stuart reads out his side on Sunday, but hopes to play Origin in the future.

"That's one of the main reasons everyone plays the game," he said. "That's a goal of mine and it's probably a goal for 300-odd other NRL players."

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