The man of the match in Manly's 2008 grand final victory over Melbourne is in danger of having his ambitions of pulling on a NSW jumper this season undermined by his NRL side's slow start to the year.

The prop was snubbed for the entire 2008 Origin series after the Sea Eagles made a tardy opening to the season before charging to their seventh premiership.

Kite, 28, admitted that shutting down Queensland veteran Civoniceva was not an easy gig.

''You certainly do need to do well against him,'' Kite said. ''Petero is a great player and you will be doing well if you get over him.''

The opening Origin match is on June 3 at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium with the Maroons chasing a fourth straight series triumph.

Having been touched up by Civoniceva's long-time ''partner in crime'' for Queensland in Steve Price last weekend, Kite's front row partner Jason King said the Manly big men had to be on their game.

Price peeled open the sleepy Sea Eagles defence and set up two tries in the Warriors' thrilling 26-24 victory last weekend.

''If he's anything like his Queensland teammate in Steve Price on the weekend [we have to be ready],'' King said. ''He was throwing the ball around on the weekend and playing like a halfback.''

Civoniceva, who turns 33 next month, has also shown a greater tendency to off load this season making one of the game's best props even more damaging. Manly have been finding it tough at the top after the opening two rounds and face a Panthers unit just as desperate to post their first win. AAP