Canberra Raiders centre Joey Leilua will use the next two games to push his case for a State of Origin berth, and teammate Blake Austin has backed his bid to secure a NSW Blues jersey.
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The Raiders play the St George Illawarra Dragons at Jubilee Oval on Thursday night and will be hoping to strengthen their grip on a top-eight spot.
But the race for Origin selection is heating up and there's just two weeks left for a host of Raiders – including Austin and Leilua – to impress NSW coach Laurie Daley.
Leilua is focused on continuing his flourishing bromance and partnership with winger Jordan Rapana while Austin has overcome a hamstring problem after an injury-riddled start to the year.
Leilua revealed his Blues goal on Monday, and is hopeful of gaining selection despite being ruled out of Samoa's Test with a leg injury and missing the City-Country clash which doubles as a NSW selection trial.
"That was one of my goals this year, to try to get a Blues jersey," Leilua said.
"I've just got to play consistent and stay in this form and hopefully I get picked to get that jersey.
"It is [still on the radar], that's my goal. But I've got to keep playing the way I am to hopefully get picked.
"It's all about the [Raiders] for me. I don't care what happens individually, it's all about the team first and then whatever my goals are come after."
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart will announce his side on Tuesday as Canberra prepares for its first Thursday night game of the season.
The club's representative players – Aidan Sezer, Paul Vaughan, Shannon Boyd, Jarrod Croker and Jack Wighton – are expected to back-up after playing at the weekend.
Sezer pressed his claims for a Blues call-up with an impressive display for City and his Canberra halves partner Austin will use two NRL matches to launch a last-minute campaign for Daley.
Leilua is banging down the NSW door after a superb start to the season and is in the best form of his career.
His form has been helped by what is becoming one of the most dangerous centre-wing combinations in the competition as he teams up with Rapana.
Leilua has made the second most offloads of any player this season with 25 and it's no coincidence the flow-on effect is Rapana's eight tries.
They're joined at the hip on and off the field, but Leilua said their bromance hasn't quite reached 'Dorguson' - Blake Ferguson and Sandor Earl - levels just yet.
"I don't think we have a name but hopefully my one's first," Leilua laughed.
Austin said: "Without a doubt [Leilua should be on the NSW radar], you've only got to see what Joey has been able to do in the first part of the season.
"His winger outside him has done a pretty good job too ... everyone for our team, if you're eligible for Origin, it's definitely something that's on your radar.
"Obviously it's a little bit closer for some than others, all you can do is go out and perform well for the Raiders. That's what Jordy and BJ have been doing regularly this year."
Austin starred in the City-Country fixture last year, scoring three tries and saving two to put himself in Blues contention.
But his NSW hopes this year have been hit by a knee injury and hamstring problem that have limited him to four of the Green Machine's nine games.
The silver lining in the 25-year-old not playing in the City-Country contest was it gave him extra time to recuperate and he's feeling refreshed.
"When you're performing well for your club, things take care of itself anyway," Austin said.
"For me it's about staying on the paddock at the moment and really performing well for the Raiders. I haven't been on the field as much as I would have liked this year."
NRL ROUND 10
Thursday: St George Illawarra Dragons v Canberra Raiders at Jubilee Oval, 7.50pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 1 and Win.
