Does anyone find it a bit weird that there aren't the usual 'scrap City vs Country' calls going out this year? Hmm, just a thought. Personally, I love this fixture not so much for the NSW trial aspect but any chance you get to see players who usually play against each other, line up alongside each other is awesome in my books.

The City backline must be the most exciting collection of players across the entire rep weekend. James Tedesco has to play on the wing because there's a certain Matt Moylan bloke starting at fullback and on the other win you have the current NSW winger in Daniel Tupou. While that's a fairly talented bunch of outside backs, City also have the luxury of calling up the form centre of the NRL this season in James Roberts as well as Waqa Blake who has looked like a beast in his first few games of his NRL career.

For Country, there's slightly less punch but they still have blokes who will hold their own. Jack Wighton starts at centre with David Mead at fullback and with Jarrod Croker as the other centre, they'll be tasked with stopping two fine physical specimens. Two Raiders in the centres and two Knights on the wings with Akuila Uate and James McManus lining up out wide, again, their opposites in the City jersey will make this one hell of a contest.

In the halve, while Blake Austin is on fire in the NRL, you have to think that James Maloney and Jarrod Mullen will look to stamp their mark on this game. Austin's halves partner for City, Josh Reynolds hasn't been in the greatest form and both are essentially 6's who play their best running the football, chiming in with kicks when needed and setting up their outside men alongside a dominant halfback.

While Country will rely heavily on Mullen and Maloney to run things, City have the ability to make the most of Curtis Sironen and Wade Graham who will play on either edge. They have both played in the halves at NRL level and have all the skills, which should give City a few options on both sides of the field. Should one of their halves be put under the pump, they can shovel it out wider to Sironen or Graham and let them make a smart decision. Or they can use their skills intentionally with a bunch of different plays run wider with Sironen or Graham throwing the key pass. Look for Moylan to be hunting around these two, a bit wider on the field.

I also love Tyrone Peachey. He's playing at lock for City and while being a small bugger always rips in and has plenty of speed and footwork. He'll be a gun.

In terms of pure muscle, you've got to go with City once again. Andrew Fifita, David Klemmer, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Kane Evans are all huge lads with footwork and agility, in fact, I reckon that the two teams selected represent the flashy/country lad ideals of this game. The Country forward pack is full of lads who will show up all the time and execute their plays efficiently with Dale Finucan and Josh Jackson epitomising that along with Kade Snowden who is playing some of his best footy. They do have Ryan James, another lad in great form and Tariq Sims coming off the bench as well, they'll add plenty of oomph to Country.

Keep an eye on the two number 14's as well with Jack Bird likely to bring the ruckus for Country and Joseph Paulo doing the same for City. Ruckus in terms of, they'll get plenty of ball and switch things up. Bird has taken the NRL by storm this season and I thin his utility value will be a great asset, not because he can cover a bunch of positions but when he comes off the bench, he could pop into dummy half, he could wander out wider; he'll be bouncing around looking to make an impact.

Paulo's a bit more classical, he'll get into first receiver and ensure that plays are set up perfectly while also being big enough to do the job of a forward. He can do some dummy half, but Nathan Peats is an 80 minute man so keep watch of how Paulo and Bird add to their respective teams.

I want to look at the bigger picture a bit as well. First of all, it's odd how NSW, despite winning last year's series have all the noise around them about selections. Queensland seem to have some idea, with their core still remaining while NSW are a bit all over the show with even their skipper Paul Gallen a walking headline. Just a thought.

Who is going to be pushing for a NSW jumper? Matt Moylan can stake his claim for the fullback jersey with a dominating display, but Josh Dugan's playing for the Kangaroos so it will have to be a match-winner of an effort from Moylan. Although, Dugan has shown that he can do a decent job at centre and having him and Michael Jennings in the centres with Moylan at fullback does sound lovely don't it?

Ryan James has been on a roll this season out on the edge for the Gold Coast Titans, if he can come off the bench and add some impact to Country, I reckon he'll work himself into the mix. Wade Graham has also been talked up over many years as a future rep player, but has had to wait his time. His all round ability could make him a smokey as well.

I'd also keep an eye on the battle between Tedesco and Tupou for City. Tupou hasn't been in great form this season and if Tedesco can show that he's a lethal wing at a slightly higher level, then he could be impossible to ignore.

To finish with, you've got the halves. The man to watch for me is Jarrod Mullen, that's if Laurie Daley isn't 100 percent happy with the Reynolds/Trent Hodkinson combo. Mullen will have to play extremely well, but he can play in the 6 jersey and could fit in nicely with Hodkinson, especially with his left boot.