Queensland will make a decision on the State of Origin availability of winger Darius Boyd after he undergoes a final fitness test with the Maroons at Coolum on Sunday before the team flies to Sydney.
The Newcastle winger has been receiving intensive treatment for a badly bruised ankle since joining the team last Tuesday.
If he gets through the opposed session against the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles on Sunday he’ll get the Origin green light from coach Mal Meninga.
Melbourne flyer Justin O’Neill has been in camp all week and is on standby to make his debut if Boyd’s ankle fails the final test.
Meninga is also uncertain as to whether he’ll have the services of champion halfback Johnathan Thurston on Wednesday night’s game one in Sydney with his partner Samantha due to have their first child at any time.
Like O’Neill, Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans has been with the Maroons in camp since Tuesday as back up should Thurston have to break camp suddenly for the birth.
Queensland also have the Ben Te’o assault investigation hanging over their head but Meninga said the mood of the camp had been quite relaxed with the players “ready to go” when they get to Sydney.
“If JT (Thurston) has to withdraw from the team on the morning of the match, then we will play the cards that we are dealt. JT will be out, Daly Cherry-Evans will come in,” Meninga said in his Courier Mail column on Sunday.
“It’s as simple as that.
“Sure, we would miss JT.
“But the performance and cohesion of the team will not be reduced by the absence of one player.
“This is a team, not a one-man band.
“We can only control what is controllable.
“We will make a decision on Darius this morning, and work forward from there.”