South Sydney winger Nathan Merritt appears set to make long-awaited State of Origin rugby league debut for NSW as replacement for the suspended Blake Ferguson.

NSW coach Laurie Daley was to name his replacement player on Tuesday afternoon, but reports were already circulating that 30-year-old Merritt had received the call.

Merritt, the veteran of 213 NRL matches, has 148 tries to his name and has often been touted for Origin.

Merritt was believed to be vying with Newcastle flier Akuila Uate for the wing spot made vacant when Ferguson was suspended on Monday after being charged by police with indecent assault following an alleged incident at a Cronulla nightspot on Sunday night.