GREG BIRD's Cronulla and NSW teammate, Paul Gallen, last night backed Braith Anasta as the man to replace him in the Blues No.6 jersey for next week's Origin decider.

While Bird refused to give up hope of being able to play in the July 2 clash at ANZ Stadium until he undergoes scans on the knee injury that forced him from the field in agony during yesterday's controversial 16-14 win over Parramatta, the initial diagnosis was that he would be out for two to eight weeks - forcing at least one change to the NSW side thrashed 30-0 by Queensland in Origin II.

Blues selectors will also await the results of today's scans on St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier's injured back and an X-ray on Newcastle forward Steve Simpson's jaw, along with the NRL match review committee's verdict on a high tackle by Manly prop Brent Kite on Warriors centre Brent Tate in Auckland yesterday (see report, Page 7).

After starring in the Sydney Roosters' 16-14 defeat of Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Anasta maintained the stance he has adopted throughout the series of not talking publicly about his selection prospects, or the disappointment of being overlooked for Origin I and II. However, he won support for a recall from NSW skipper Danny Buderus as well as Gallen.

"The obvious choice is Braith," Gallen said. "It's up to the selectors but he's an awesome player. I don't doubt for a second how good he is. It's just that 'Birdy' has played four rep matches and been man of the match in three of them. But Braith is obviously the next man in line."

Buderus, who will be playing his final representative game in Origin III after signing to finish his career with Super League champions Leeds, described Bird's injury - a posterior cruciate tear in his left leg - as "devastating for Greg and NSW", but the Knights hooker said that if the selectors opted for Anasta they would be picking a player ready to perform in such a crucial match.

"We tried to put a lot of pressure on him in the game today, but he still managed to get his passes away and kicks in," Buderus said. "He would be pretty handy for NSW in that position, but it's up to the selectors."

Bird sustained the injury reaching out to try and score in the 29th minute and hyperextended his knee. He was assisted from the field by two Cronulla trainers and as they waited for a medicab to take Bird to the dressing rooms he continually winced in pain each time he tried to put pressure on his left leg. The Herald was told he was also in agony in the Sharks dressing room as the club's medical staff worked on him before he went to the sideline to watch the match's gripping climax.

"It felt awful pretty much and hopefully it is just the shock of it," Bird said.

"A million different things can go wrong with your knee so we just have to wait and see. It hasn't swollen up too bad, I put ice straight on it so we'll see how I go. I usually heal pretty good, so I'm not writing myself off yet. If it comes back with maybe a slight strain of the posterior cruciate, with a good recovery I might be right in a week and a half."

Sharks coach Ricky Stuart said: "I had a quick chat to him at half-time and he was pretty disappointed as any player would be at this stage of the year when you're a representative player and you're club team is going OK. Our best case scenario is two to three weeks and our worst case scenario is six to eight weeks."

Meanwhile, Dragons strength and conditioning coach Paul McGregor yesterday predicted that Gasnier was likely to recover from the back injury he initially sustained at training last Thursday and aggravated in Friday night's 13-12 win over Penrith.

"I think he will be OK," McGregor said. "He's an amazing healer, when it's two weeks for most people it's one for him."

Simpson was last night confident he would be fit to play, saying: "The doctor said there might be a tiny fracture, but I should be all right."

Newcastle prop Ben Cross was hoping he did enough in his comeback game from a broken thumb suffered in Origin I to regain his place in the NSW side.

LIKELY NSW TEAM: Brett Stewart; Jarryd Hayne, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Anthony Quinn; Braith Anasta, Peter Wallace; Craig Fitzgibbon, Danny Buderus, Brett White, Ryan Hoffman, Willie Mason, Paul Gallen. Int: Kurt Gidley, Ben Cross, Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Tupou.