The man who literally bled for NSW – ex-skipper Ben Elias – has encouraged the Blues to maintain their niggling tactics, saying they should do what it takes to ensure a rare State of Origin whitewash.

And Elias is so confident of NSW “doing the full job” on the Maroons in what he predicts will be an explosive game three on Wednesday night that he will attend the Suncorp Stadium clash so he can “personally see the tears in Queensland’s eyes”.

Elias conjured one of Origin’s enduring images when he braved a head gash that required 10 stitches to step in for injured skipper Laurie Daley and lead the Blues to a 14-6 game one victory in 1992.

A still bleeding Elias was captured by TV cameras being attended to by his mother Barbara after his man-of-the-match effort that set up NSW’s series win.

So it’s no surprise that the ex-Blues rake has urged NSW to “do what we have to do” to seal a morale-boosting sweep over the former eight-time Origin champions.

“Call it niggling, call it dirty, call it whatever you want,” Elias told AAP, with NSW poised to seal their first whitewash in 14 years.

“We will do what we have to do to win it 3-0.

“Because we have a lot of ground to make up – 3-0 would be a nice start.”

Queensland pivot Johnathan Thurston has braced himself for the worst in game three after tensions threatened to reach boiling point in the second game in Sydney.

Thurston has been heavily targeted all series by NSW but appeared to feel the heat in game two, slapping Beau Scott across the face and almost coming to blows with Blues pivot Josh Reynolds.

Elias predicted Thurston ain’t seen nothing yet.

“One hundred per cent I expect it to be explosive,” he said.

“Anyone who thinks it is going to be a walk in the park or a friendly are kidding themselves.

“I know from the past that there is no such thing as a dead rubber in Origin.”

Elias said he had never felt more “hollow” than when he raised the Origin trophy in 1990 after Queensland avoided a clean sweep by winning game three in Brisbane.

But he was so confident that current Blues skipper Paul Gallen would avoid his fate that he booked an game three ticket.

“I want to personally see the tears in the Queenslanders’ eyes,” laughed Elias, a veteran of 19 Origins from 1985-94.

“I know they want to finish the job in front of Queensland’s own crowd.”