As we heard yesterday Latrell Mitchell is set to miss State of Origin III with a foot injury, leaving a major selection question for the NSW Blues.

So, if Mitchell can't be at Lang Park on July 17 after his start turn in Game II, the potential replacements are likely playing today.

Tom Trbojevic looked off the pace as he made his return from another long-term hamstring injury for Manly last night, so you can bet Michael Maguire will be considering Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i despite him not playing in today's first game between the Roosters and Dragons.

The rugby union-bound Sua'ali'i was named for Game I but only played seven-and-a-half minutes before being sent off for his brutal high shot on Reece Walsh. We assumed his Origin career was probably over after he copped a four-week suspension for that hit, but he is a chance to earn re-selection and redeem himself at Origin level even without playing today, as his ban is up after this weekend.

Meanwhile, Bradman Best will play the final match of the round before the Blues are named. The incumbent after his debut in Game III last year, he may well have been named for the series opener if not for an ill-timed hamstring injury. Today he will take on the Raiders in an attempt to regain that sky blue jersey.

Another contender, Matt Burton, played a match-winning hand at five-eighth for the Bulldogs in their second straight golden-point win yesterday. He's more of a playmaker than the other two, and it will really depend on what part of Mitchell's game Maguire wants to replace more — the pure athleticism or the playmaking.