Queensland will gamble on the fitness of halfback Cooper Cronk in their quest to avoid a State of Origin whitewash in Brisbane next week.

Cronk, who hasn’t played since breaking his arm in the series opener in Brisbane, was named by the Maroons at No.7 in their team for next Wednesday week’s Game III at Suncorp Stadium.

He is one of several changes to the Maroons’ team as they battle injuries to key players such as Matt Scott and Brent Tate.

Queensland coach Mal Meninga said Daly Cherry-Evans had done nothing wrong in Cronk’s absence during game two last month but the Melbourne halfback deserved his shock recall.

“He’s the incumbent halfback. Daly’s done a terrific job the last couple of games and loyalty, I guess plays a factor, but he deserves his spot back in the footy side,” Meninga said.

Cronk’s Storm clubmate Will Chambers has been named as Tate’s replacement on the wing for what will be his Origin debut.

Warriors forward Jacob Lillyman has earned a promotion from the bench in Scott’s absence and will start in the front-row alongside captain Cameron Smith and Nate Myles.

Corey Parker will also come straight back into the team after missing Game II with a facial fracture while Dave Taylor has retained his bench spot ahead of Josh Papalii, who has been dropped.

Brisbane’s Josh McGuire and North Queensland’s Michael Morgan have been named as reserves in a 19-man squad with Morgan set to join the team after the Cowboys’ NRL match on Saturday.

Queensland: Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Will Chambers, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Jacob Lillyman, Cameron Smith (capt), Nate Myles, Aidan Guerra, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker.

Interchange: Daly Cherry-Evans, Ben Te’o, Matt Gillett, Dave Taylor.

Reserves: Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan.