Simply earning selection in North Queensland’s starting side will be tough enough in 2020, Coen Hess admits.

But the lanky backrower is still hopeful of taking the first step toward a Queensland State of Origin recall this weekend.

Hess will be among a star-studded 33-strong squad that will assemble in Brisbane on Saturday for an unprecedented two-day Maroons camp overseen by coach Kevin Walters.

Taking a leaf out of two-time defending champions NSW’s book, Walters has ditched his traditional Emerging Maroons camp and invited a full strength squad to train together in the pre-season.

Hess, 23, played the last of his five Origins in 2018.

And he appeared well down the Maroons pecking order after an underwhelming 2019 in which he lost his Cowboys backrow starting spot, spending time off the bench and even in the centres.

But Hess was hopeful some Walters guidance this weekend would steer him toward an Origin return in 2020.

“I am sure he will have individual goals for everyone (at Maroons camp),” Hess said.

“It’s a good opportunity for us all to get together. There is a new wave of players coming through the Queensland team.

“He (Walters) wants to get everyone on the same page. If we can do that and get a strong connection as a group that will be best for Queensland going into the series.”

But Hess says his top priority is returning to the Cowboys’ starting side with Gavin Cooper and Shane Wright sewing up starting back-row spots for now.

“Coops and Wrighty have their hands on the position at the moment. It is up to guys like myself, Dunny (Mitch Dunn) and Ben Condon to put pressure on them to lift the intensity of the team,” he said.

“Everyone wants to play in round one so we are training really hard.”

However he backed himself to cause a selection headache for Cowboys coach Paul Green after slimming down in the NRL pre-season.

“I feel a lot better. I have lost a substantial amount of weight compared to last year,” Hess said.

“I was probably playing a bit too heavy last year and became a bit stiff so this year I have focused on slimming down and improving flexibility, making sure I am more mobile around the field.”