Parramatta coach Brad Arthur says halfback Mitchell Moses is "on top of his game" as he backed his star man's bid to make a State of Origin debut for New South Wales.
Moses is one of the favourites to replace injured Blues star Nathan Cleary, who will miss Game III due to a shoulder injury and has already received a number of endorsements, including from the likes of former NSW Blues coach Phil Gould.
The 26-year-old said he felt ready himself, adding that he'd be "kicking himself" if he wasn't prepared to take the leap to the representative arena.
While he has always been one of the game's most talented playmakers, Arthur lauded Moses' ability to construct a game, backing him to fill the void left by Cleary.
"I do [think he's ready for State of Origin]," Arthur told 2GB's Wide World of Sports Radio.
"This weekend is not an audition for State of Origin, he's playing for Parramatta and he just needs to keep doing his job and what he's done for us all year. Obviously with Nathan out, for me, I think Mitchell is next in line.
"He's become very reliable for us on a week-to-week basis, but he's also become reliable for a full 80 minutes.
"He's prepared to build a game right from the start and not trying to win it for 10 minutes.
"He's got his plans he sticks to for 40 minutes and he comes back into the sheds and re-focuses and goes again and that's the sign of a maturing halfback and a bloke that's on top of his game."
Cleary's injury has thrown a spanner in NSW coach Brad Fittler's preparations for the July 14 series finale, and Fittler said he and his assistants have begun canvassing options to replace the Panthers star.
"I've put it out there and asked [his assistants] what they thought and they're coming back slowly," he told Wide World of Sports Radio.
"We all want to watch a few games and look at a bit of video. We have a bit of time and that's something we really respect, we've got time to make a decision and we'll use that as much as we can."
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