Tomorrow evening her career takes another turn when she is coach of the NSW team determined the win back the shield after last year's defeat. Hilder is the first woman to coach NSW.

Fourteen members of tomorrow's night's squad played Queensland last year. However, Hilder refuted suggestions she might be too close to them to be an effective coach.

"Just the opposite. Because we're together for such a short time I think it's an advantage,'' she said from her Forster home before leaving to go into camp with the team.

Hilder assured she'll be seeking input from team members during the week as she works out a game plan she hopes will upset the Queenslanders.

And Hilder added that the players know the boundaries. Hilder is the coach this year, not a team-mate. She also won't have to look far for some expert advice as Manly great, Geoff Toovey, is her assistant coach.

As is the case with State of Origin, whether it is men or women. coach Hilder is quick to claim the underdog tag for NSW.

"Absolutely we're the underdogs,'' she said.

"We have to travel up there. They're the defending champions, so all the pressure will be on them.''

Hilder is confident the Blues have the squad to reverse last year's defeat. She missed the inaugural game in 2018 due to injury but was a member of the winning team in 2019. Despite being officially retired Hilder was drafted into the starting team last year, playing 57 minutes of the game at dummy half.

"We've picked players who are in form and that made the job easier,'' Hilder assured.

Since her breakthrough appointment last year Hilder's spent plenty of time on the road watching games and assessing form.

Holli Wheeler from Old Bar has made a successful return from knee reconstruction surgery to regain her place in the squad. Wheeler was injured playing for St George-Illawarra in the NRLW Nines in Perth in February and didn't play a game in 2020.

A backrower and member of the winning NSW 2018/19 teams, Wheeler will start from the bench.

"Holli's been playing well for North Sydney and she's made a strong comeback from injury,'' Hilder said, adding that Wheeler's ball distribution ability will give the side more options in attack .

Hilder has held coaching positions with the Sydney Roosters NRLW side for the past two years. She expects to be involved in some capacity later this season when the competition welcomes three new teams, Newcastle Knights, Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans.

"But I've blocked all that out to concentrate on the State of Origin,'' she said.

Life's never been busier for the 45-year-old between coaching and administrative duties with the NSWRL.

"I don't even have time to watch by son play for the Hawks,'' she said.