Country coach Trent Barrett has defended the annual City-Country clash as a vital State of Origin selection tool amid mass withdrawals and claims the representative fixture is unnecessary.

Sunday’s match at Dubbo’s Apex Oval has been hit by a spate of pullouts with Wade Graham and Trent Hodkinson’s unavailability bringing the number of players who have withdrawn after being named to seven.

With Mitchell Pearce, John Sutton, Kurt Gidley and Josh Morris also rested at the request of NSW coach Laurie Daley, it remains to be seen whether the match is a genuine Origin selection trial.

But former NSW assistant coach Barrett pointed to Sydney Roosters back-rower Boyd Cordner and Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita as two players who debuted in this fixture last season before going on to represent NSW and Australia.

“When you look at the Origin sides there are always one or two players who will emerge from this game,” Barrett told AAP.

“It gives players the chance to play in the (Origin) series when they might not have had that chance otherwise.

“There is a lot of focus on the nine debutants, it is a really big occasion for them to make the step from first grade into rep level.

“It is the first step into playing for NSW, so it is an important game for them.

“We had Boyd Cordner and Andrew Fifita last year, this was his their first rep game, and they ended up playing for NSW and going on a tour with the Australian side.

“If you ask those sort of guys, it is definitely worth it.”

Graham and Hodkinson joined Josh Dugan, Michael Gordon, Aidan Sezer, Trent Merrin and Tyson Frizell as withdrawals from the match, with several pundits including former NSW forward Mark Geyer claiming the game isn’t needed.

City coach Brad Fittler said he had given Graham and Hodkinson every chance to prove their fitness but they fall short.

The former Blues skipper said it was up to the players to make the most of the occasion.

“The game is on, we embrace it for what it is, I love coming out to the country towns,” Fittler said.

“It’s up to the players themselves, if they play a good game it could lead to other things.

“It is in their hands, that’s how I like to put it, if they believe the game is useful then it will be a good game.

“Withdrawals are the nature of the beast, we gave them (Graham and Hodkinson) enough time to make a decision, because they are next in line for Origin spots probably if there are injuries but they weren’t right.”