This year, though, given the spate of players being suspended (Victor, what were you thinking?) and injury ruling out others (will Cam Murray be ready to go?), doing so in the lead up to the 2021 series is definitely tougher than other years.

But Riley Krause and Nick McGrath, two of the Central Western Daily's sharpest rugby league minds, and Matt Findlay, have had a crack anyway.

Can these Blues sides beat what will probably be the second worst Queensland side of all time?

Pick every Penrith player you can and be done with it, they've lost one game in the last 30 or so they've played for goodness sake.

Debuting Jarome Luai, Brian To'o and Api Koroisau is as much about form as it is combinations for me so it's an easy decision, and so is bringing back Latrell Mitchell.

I don't like the amount of players NSW has picked out of position in the backline, but I still prefer Mitchell at centre to fullback and we all know Tom Trbojevic is an exceptional case and you simply can't leave him out.

I also don't think they can leave Matt Burton out, that's based purely on his form but his versatility is obviously an added bonus so he takes the utility spot ... by literally covering virtually every position on the field.

I don't buy into the 'NSW needs starch on David Fifita's edge' argument because he's a complete cheat code and if he gets going no one's going to stop him anyway, so I'd just try to out-pace and out-score him.

That means I've left Jack Wighton out, but his form doesn't demand selection and if he's not playing five-eighth there's better options to fill those centre and utility roles at the moment.

But then there's the 50-50 guys like Ryan Papenhuyzen, who I've only left out because he appears unlikely to be fit, and who knows what could happen this weekend... so just pick Panthers and hope they all come through unscathed.

NSW doesn't have to do a lot different to what it did in 2020, just don't pick Clint Gutherson in the centres again.

While I'm a subscriber to picking the best players and finding a place for them in the 17, the Parramatta fullback was found wanting defensively out wide against (checks notes) the wonderfully mediocre Kurt Capewell.

Panthers' young-gun Stephen Crichton is a must, and if Zac Lomax was fit I'd nearly have him in there too - but Jack Wighton can fill the other centre spot for game one.

Trbojevic is a huge in for the Blues. It will not matter at all what number he has on his back, his impact on the game will be immense, and telling. He'll be another fullback, essentially. What a one-two punch Tedesco and Turbo will be.

But the key will be through the middle. With the new rule changes and the pace of the game nearing warp speed, setting that pace will be the difference.

And, who cares how little he has played, if Ryan Papenhuyzen is cleared of any issues following a bad head knock a couple of weeks ago, get him in there. His speed is such a weapon.

I know what you're all thinking; Tedesco on the bench? But with a plethora of backs to choose from, someone has to miss out and Papenhuyzen has too much explosiveness to be sitting on the bench. His injury might keep him out of the side altogether, but if he's fit there's nobody else I'd rather see at fullback.

Your halves pairing is an obvious one. With the Panthers flying high, you hope that Cleary and Luai can replicate that on the biggest stage...and although Koroisau is far from someone just along for the ride, his inclusion over names such as Jayden Brailey rested heavily on Penrith's overall performance so far.

You can call me a homer if you want with the Wade Graham pick and you will get no argument from me. He's a steadying presence in an otherwise exciting 17 and that can't be overlooked.

Steady is not something you will hear me say about Klemmer and that is exactly why he earns a starting spot. There's not a player in the league I'd like to face less and come crunch time, that is exactly who I want.

The bench is stock standard, but just the thought of Tedesco running circles around a group of tired legs will keep Maroons fans up at night.