Former NSW halfback Peter Wallace believes Penrith clubmate Matt Moylan has the perfect opportunity this weekend to show why he should be the Blues fullback this year.

Moylan will play the No.1 role for NSW City Origin in the annual representative fixture against Country in Wagga Wagga on Sunday.

The 23-year-old is one of three candidates, including Manly’s Brett Stewart and St George-Illawarra’s Josh Dugan – NSW coach Laurie Daley has pinpointed to replace NFL hopeful Jarryd Hayne in this year’s State of Origin series.

But with Stewart rested for Country and Dugan to make his Kangaroos debut on the wing on Friday, Wallace said Moylan could just about clinch his maiden Origin jumper with an eye-catching outing this weekend.

“It’s a massive opportunity,” Wallace told AAP.

“Any time you get to play rep footy is big, [but] with the spot up for grabs, it’s even bigger.

“Last year he was one of the best in the City-Country game. He just needs to back it up this year and he’ll hopefully get a run.”

The Penrith fullback returned to form when he scored a try and set up another in his side’s victory over Cronulla on Sunday.

But Wallace, who played four games for the Blues between 2008-09, said he’s been more impressed with Moylan’s work off the ball this season.

“His first two games were really good, then he probably fell off a little bit in terms of the little things in his game which made him so good last year, like his goal-line defence,” Wallace said.

“He was back to his best last week. He probably only had two touches that the media get a hold of, but everything else in his game was really good.