New South Wales has been forced into a major spine change on the eve of the State of Origin series.
Mitchell Moses has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, Blues coach Laurie Daley confirmed on Tuesday morning.
"He's out," Daley said.
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"Had a strain of the hammy. Nothing major, but just too risky only 48 hours out from a game.
"Ethan Strange will start and Matt Burton will come to the bench.
"Big loss, but like Origin you expect nothing different. There is always unexpected things that happen."
Former NSW coach Phil Gould backed young gun Strange to play five-eighth in Wednesday night's State of Origin series opener after news of Moses' injury emerged on Monday.
Strange was named on the six-man bench for game one but now the 21-year-old Raiders star will start in the halves alongside Nathan Cleary.
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Speaking on Nine's 100% Footy on Monday night, Gould backed Strange to fulfil a prediction from last season delivered by Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
"We got a call this morning, Matt Burton was just about to run out and train with his teammates and in the end, we had to tell him he was in the Origin side, so he's in a car and up there [to camp]," Gould explained.
"He's in the 19 from what I understand, that's what I believe. He's the halves coverage and Casey McLean would be the outside backs.
"He [Strange] is ready for it. This time last year, Ricky Stuart predicted it – he said he would go on the Kangaroos tour and he would play for NSW.
"He's obviously got the physicality and mentality for it. They [Queensland] have got a debut halfback as well in Sam Walker, so it's even stevens."
Strange has cemented himself as one of the game's best young talents since debuting for the Raiders three years ago. He took out Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year in 2025.
Cleary told 100% Footy that the debutant is "keen as" and had been getting plenty of reps at training in case one of the halves went down injured.
On the flip side, it's a major blow for Moses, who told media at the weekend that he was determined this would be the year he makes it through the entire series.
"It's been no secret that I obviously haven't had the best run of injuries the last few years," he said.
"I've been feeling really good at the moment, and coming into this Origin series I've been feeling really good. So, touch wood I'm injury-free this series and can punch it out.
"I'm excited for that challenge."
The Blues lost last year's series decider at Accor Stadium in Sydney, the same venue as Wednesday night's opener.
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