The health of the Roosters co-captain shapes as NSW's primary concern before what is being billed as the biggest Origin clash in recent memory after the 25-year-old was again left out of the Roosters squad for the second week running.

It means Cordner – if given the green light – won't have played since the Origin II heartbreaker if he heads up the Blues' assault at Suncorp Stadium in a fortnight's time.

Sharks back-rower Wade Graham, who would logically fill Cordner's spot in the starting side and could even be a potential captaincy alternative, is adamant his close friend will prove he is a fast healer and get a chance to steer NSW to victory in his first series as captain.

Cordner returned early from an ankle surgery in 2013 to help the Roosters to a grand-final triumph over the Sea Eagles.

"We had a little dinner [on Tuesday] night and I caught up with him and he's going OK," Graham said. "He's working hard.

"One thing about Boydy is he will work his hardest to make sure he has the best possible chance of playing. He's not going to be playing on the weekend but knowing him, if he's got half a leg, he'll play. He's the ultimate professional in regards to that.

"He's got a track record of overcoming injuries. He'll be working hard on that and we've got our fingers crossed, everyone in the playing group, and I'm sure all of NSW."

While Cordner is likely to be named in Laurie Daley's squad on Monday, which is otherwise bereft of the upheaval,  Kevin Walters is planning for Origin III without long-term casualties Johnathan Thurston and Darius Boyd. Cameron Munster will get the nod to fill Boyd's vacancy.

Jack de Belin looms as the big beneficiary if Cordner is ruled out of Origin III. Tigers skipper Aaron Woods, Bulldogs ironman Josh Jackson and Graham are also capable of leading NSW in his absence.

But Cordner's NSW teammates refuse to concede their leader won't be running out onto Suncorp Stadium, despite fears from inside the NSW camp about the extent of his injury in the immediate aftermath of Origin II.

"It's hard to get a read on Boydy because he's not a real emotional guy, but he seems confident," Graham said. "He gets his confidence from knowing how hard he works to get things right.

"I'm like everyone else ... we all have our fingers crossed the calf comes good and he's right for Origin III. My mindset is Boydy is right."

Cordner's Roosters and Graham's Sharks will wage a top-four shootout in Gosford on Saturday in a match Daley will be nervously watching given it features six NSW representatives.

But Sharks coach Shane Flanagan will be more concerned with his side's slow starts as the premiers seek to force their way back into the top four.

"If you've got any suggestions [to arrest the slow starts] we're open to them," Graham joked. "We spoke about it and it's one of those things that is really letting us down and putting pressure on ourselves.

"[The Manly loss] was probably our worst statistical game I've been a part of in recent memory – at least in the last 18 months – and we've had some poor statistical games. When you're playing under-8s you can't toss that up."