Mitchell Moses's participation in the State of Origin opener is now uncertain due to ongoing hamstring troubles, opening the door for Ethan Strange's possible debut.
Moses, the five-eighth for New South Wales, practiced with the Blues in Gosford today but will undergo scans after reporting tightness in his hamstring.
The team, led by Laurie Daley, has moved back to Sydney following a training session against Newcastle's NSW Cup squad on the Central Coast.
With the potential absence of Moses, NSW has swiftly brought Canterbury's Matt Burton into the camp ahead of Wednesday's match at Homebush.
"The NSW Blues, subject to ARLC (Australian Rugby League Commission) approval, will call Matt Burton into the 20-player squad as stand-by for five-eighth Mitchell Moses, who pulled up with hamstring tightness at the end of training at Polytec Stadium in Gosford," the Blues stated this afternoon.
"Moses completed the team session but felt tightness as part of extra activities post the team session, and will undergo scans tomorrow to determine the extent of the injury."
"Subject to ARLC approval, Burton will join camp this evening and train with the team in their final session tomorrow ahead of game one."
If Moses is unable to play, 21-year-old Canberra standout Strange, who began on the Blues' interchange, is expected to step into the number six position alongside halfback Nathan Cleary.
Although Strange has not yet experienced Origin play, he was part of the Kangaroos tour to England during the off-season.