NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley reserves Paul Gallen's front row spot Nathan Hindmarsh and Matty Johns chat in the green room about the contenders at fullback for NSW Origin. Paul Gallen is expected to start in the front row for Origin I. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph HE is ready to again lead NSW from the front - literally. Cronulla's Paul Gallen is set to shift from the back row to prop for another 80 minutes of hardship in State of Origin I. Blues coach Laurie Daley told The Daily Telegraph last night he was leaning toward using Gallen up front alongside James Tamou as his starting props for the ANZ Stadium series opener. In other Origin developments: MANLY'S Jorge Taufua has now slipped alongside Nathan Merritt, Akuila Uate and Brett Morris for a NSW winger spot; CANBERRA'S Blake Ferguson has secured the other wing position; JAMES Maloney has moved ahead of Todd Carney for the five-eighth spot; MANLY'S Glenn Stewart has come back into contention despite missing six matches through injury; and NEWCASTLE'S Willie Mason is still an outside chance for a forward position. Nathan Hindmarsh says there will be a few new faces, especially in the forward pack, in the NSW Origin side. Picking Gallen at prop leaves the backrow open. Stewart, Luke Lewis, Greg Bird, Anthony Watmough and Ryan Hoffman are pushing for game one spots. Daley is also tossing up whether to have a utility player on the bench - which would be Newcastle's Kurt Gidley - or run with four forwards. Two backrowers who miss starting spots could revert back to the bench along with candidates Trent Merrin, Tim Grant, Andrew Fifita and Mason. It appears Aaron Woods has been overlooked. Asked where Gallen would play, Daley said: "It's a tough one. Paul has been a warrior for NSW. He is our skipper. We have to determine where he best fits the team. There are other contentious spots but I still have a few days to go before the team is announced. I am mulling over a few positions with (chief adviser) Bob Fulton. But I know whoever is chosen will represent the sky blue jumper with pride and passion. A wing spot remains open. Morris will be selected if he can make a miraculous return from a knee injury. Failing that, Taufua, Uate and Merritt are level-pegging. Taufua's power running coming out from his own line may give him a small edge. Maloney and Carney are close but - as revealed in The Daily Telegraph last week - the Roosters star's goalkicking has put him slightly in front. As expected, Robbie Farah will be named hooker. Daley said he was ready for the ANZ Stadium match - after months of waiting. "I'm excited," he said. It is the start of a long process. I have been waiting patiently - or impatiently - for eight to nine months. We will do the state proud and are ready to give it our best. Already 70,000 seats have been sold for Origin I and, remarkably, 52,000 seats have been sold for Origin III.