NSW captain Paul Gallen says his team are well prepared to face an intensely hostile atmosphere in State of Origin III on Wednesday.

With the Origin series on the line in veteran Justin Hodges’ last game for Queensland, Gallen said on Tuesday the Blues were bracing for a fierce ‘welcome’ from Maroons fans at Suncorp Stadium.

“It will be a daunting atmosphere, but we will ready for it,” Gallen said.

The Blues skipper has been a reviled figure for years north of the border, although his status as Queensland’s Public Enemy No.1 may have been overtaken by giant prop David Klemmer who riled the Maroons in Origin II in Melbourne.

Gallen said he had spoken to his troops about what to expect and he believed NSW would be able to use the occasion to their advantage.

The Blues have not won an Origin decider in Brisbane since 2005 and are chasing back-to-back wins in the series for the first time since that year.