Fail to perform and you’re gone.

For the first time in years the mentor has supreme depth with several players in key positions fighting for spots.

Having left out such top players as Jack de Belin, Paul Vaughan, James Tamou, Dylan Walker, James Roberts, Matt Moylan, Jarrod Croker, Joey Leilua, Chad Townsend, Luke Keary and Adam Reynolds, the Blues finally have genuine pressure to perform.

That has not been the case in past series with a lack of depth making it difficult for Daley to change his squad mid-series.

But with quality players waiting in the wings, the coach said he had made it clear to his players that if they do not perform they will be cut.  

"We've got plenty of depth, so the challenge for our players this year is not to feel comfortable because we have got players underneath that we haven't had that in the past," Daley said.

"That's what excites me. We've got a good group of players to choose from, so the ball's in their court. They know now they have to perform.

"If they don't, we've got other people ready to go. That's the pressure that we've been looking to build internally in our squad and I think we've done that.

"I don't know whether we've had that group of players in the past that you could really choose and make a lot of changes.

"This year I think there's a number of guys that have been unlucky to miss selection.

"And that's what you want - you want them to be hungry as well and make sure that when their opportunity arises, they're ready to take it."