St George Illawarra skipper Ben Hornby claims NSW incumbent Jamie Soward is playing better now than when picked to make his State of Origin debut last year as he prepares to go head-to-head with the man gunning for his Blues jersey – Todd Carney.

Soward is under intense pressure to retain the NSW five-eighth role for this year’s series, with Carney heading a charge which includes Canberra playmaker Terry Campese, Warriors’ star James Maloney and Newcastle pivot Jarrod Mullen.

Soward and Carney face off when the Dragons take on Cronulla on Saturday night, while on Sunday, Maloney and Campese will do battle in Canberra.

“Each year, Sowie gets better and this year’s no different, so I think he’s playing better,” Hornby said when asked to evaluate Soward’s form in 2012.

“He’s playing with a lot more confidence this year. He’s a lot more comfortable with what we’re doing.

“He’s been playing really well for us, coming up with some big plays at the big times … Ricky’s got a tough decision.”

Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen denied Saturday night’s local derby would decide the NSW No.6, but admitted the winner of the battle could gain an advantage, particularly with the City-Country sides to be named on Sunday week.

Soward, Carney, Campese, Maloney and Mullen are all eligible for Country.

Asked about the importance of the Toyota Stadium clash in determining Origin chances, Gallen said: “I don’t think so, for the actual Origin side. It’ll obviously help – whoever gets the upper hand might slip in front of the other.

“But there’s still City-Country to be played and Test matches to be played and I think we have another four or five games before Origin is picked so a lot can happen between now and then.

“City-Country is very important. A few years ago, it might not have been looked at as being so important but certainly now it’s important.

“But Todd’s not even in that yet so still a long way to go between now and when (Origin) teams are picked so Toddy just needs to keep putting his best foot forward.”

Maloney said he wasn’t getting carried away with his Origin hopes, with his mixed 2012 form mirroring that of the inconsistent Warriors.

“It’s nice to be in the frame there, but it’s going to come down to the football I’m playing that’s going decide what happens there,” Maloney said of his Origin hopes.

“It’s obviously important to get over your opposite number regardless of who you’re playing – it’ll be a good battle with Terry on the weekend.”