EXCLUSIVE: Why Andrew Johns isn't picking Dylan Edwards in his Origin team

League legend Andrew Johns has explained his decision to pick Tom Trbojevic ahead of Dylan Edwards in his NSW Blues side as speculation ramps up ahead of Origin I.

Blues coach Laurie Daley has a conundrum on his hands with the Manly superstar returning to fitness while Edwards is the incumbent and one from one went it comes to series wins.

However, Johns has picked his team and wants Trbojevic over the prolific premiership winner.

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"Turbo hasn't played fullback for NSW," he said on Wide World of Sports' Freddy & The Eighth.

"Asking Billy Slater on the Sunday Footy Show, he said 'fully fit, there's none better (than Trbojevic)'.

"Fully fit, has to be 100 per cent fit, I think he could just absolutely tear them to bits."

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James Tedesco's form also means he's in contention for the fullback spot.

If Daley did pick Edwards or Tedesco, Johns added he'd place Trbojevic at centre in place of Stephen Crichton.

The Knights great said the other centre position is a battle between Bradman Best and Latrell Mitchell while Brian To'o and Zac Lomax would be the wingers.

Johns did predict if Jarome Luai is picked ahead of Mitchell Moses at five-eighth then Edwards is a certainty.

"Which means then it is a very Penrith style play," he said.

"Which is grind away, grind away. If you have a look at NSW's strength last year, particularly in game two, on the edges Latrell and Angus (Crichton) on the left, they couldn't tackle them. 34 points at half time.

"So how they bring those strike players into play is going to be the job of (Cleary) and Luai or (Cleary) and Moses.".

Former Blues coach Brad Fittler backed Edwards to keep his spot but wants to see more of him for the Panthers.

"He needs to have a big game," he said.

"Teddy's been unbelievable."