Former Victorian State of Origin representative David Rhys-Jones has warned of the risks of Saturday night's showpiece event.
Victoria is set to take on Western Australia at Optus Stadium, properly reviving the concept for the first time since 1999 - save for a pair of exhibition games across the past two decades.
While bringing together some of the generation's best footballers has generated significant hype, Rhys-Jones expects many to be watching apprehensively.
"You'd be watching it with bated breath, hoping nothing happens to players on your team," Rhys-Jones told Zero Hanger.
"I think you'll see it with the players; they'll go hard, but it will be a little bit more bruise-free footy than what you'd normally see in a home and away clash.
Will Day, Max King, Jack Viney and Mark Keane are among the big names facing delayed starts to 2026, while Jeremy Cameron is missing the representative clash with injury.
It continues a trend of players' durability being tested in recent years by increased season length and contact hours in pre-season, limited by the collective bargaining agreement, with Saturday's match a further "unnecessary" risk.
"If one of the stars of the competition cops an injury, that will be the end of it forever," Rhys-Jones said.
"You'd hate to see a Nick Daicos go down because you'd just about write Collingwood's season off, wouldn't you?
"After all the members have paid their membership fees, it would be a shame, so they're the risks.
"This is an unnecessary game - probably a great practice game, but I think you'll see a lot of patting on the back of opponents and smiles."
Rhys-Jones was selected for the 1984 clash, but missed due to a shoulder injury suffered days prior, before kicking three goals in the 1987 game.
He was also selected for the 1988 bicentennial carnival, but he managed just one quarter of one game before a broken hand ruled him out of the remaining games, validating his injury concerns.
While he was a Victorian, he was given eligibility to play for New South Wales against his home state in 1990, as the league sought to make the non-traditional footy state more competitive.
New South Wales famously won that game, but the 1987 premiership player and Norm Smith Medalist turned down the opportunity to play.
"I had quite a few injury problems and run-ins with the tribunal, so I also had the opinion that any extra games, I was more of a chance of getting injured or reported," the former South Melbourne, Sydney and Carlton player said.
"It's always good playing with good players and being amongst it.
"That is something you strive for, but once I played my first game, I thought, I've done that, I've ticked that box."
Rhys-Jones indicated that the nationalisation of the competition took away the lustre of the representative clash.
Whereas in eras bygone, players would oppose players they may otherwise not play against as they competed in different state leagues, there is no mystery to the matchups in 2026.
"You're playing against guys back then you'd never seen before, and it was a new experience playing against guys who just played WAFL footy, and that part was exciting," the 183-gamer reflected of previous State of Origin clashes.
"Back in the day, it was because the players didn't leave their state and play in the top level, so you'd see a lot of fantastic footballers out there you normally wouldn't see.
"It was different back then because it meant a bit more.
"Once you have a national competition and that's the highest level you could go, then that's it.
"You want your good players to get through it because there's no endgame to it.
"If you play well in that, unlike in rugby league, there's no going on to play for Australia or anything like that.
"There's no real use for the game."
