Their aura might be dimming but Queensland coach Mal Meninga hopes his reigning eight-time State of Origin champions still have enough to rub off on David Taylor.

Meninga on Friday let slip that Taylor looked set to play his first Origin in two years when a desperate Maroons attempt to keep their remarkable dynasty alive in Wednesday night’s must-win Origin II in Sydney.

It’s an enormous show of faith in a player who, in 2012, Meninga contemplated not picking for Queensland again due to his questionable attitude.

The naturally gifted, hulking Taylor still remains an enigma but barnstorming NRL form and a Maroons injury crisis ensured an unlikely Origin recall.

Meninga was burned by Taylor after attempting to take him under his wing at the 2012 camp.

But the Maroons’ coach believed simply rubbing shoulders with his all-conquering teammates will ensure the Gold Coast wrecking ball leaves his latest Origin experience a better player.

“We want Dave to be involved in the aura of the team and make sure he gets dragged along,” Meninga told radio Triple M’s Brisbane Grill Team.

“I am pretty sure he has learned his lessons from years gone by.

“I am predicting that he wants to show everyone that he deserves to be in this arena.”

Taylor seemed a long shot at a likely game-two bench start when Meninga surprised reporters at Wednesday’s media session by having a dig at the unpredictable back-rower.

“Well, he hasn’t done a job for us in the past, to be honest with you,” Meninga said of Taylor’s previous six Origin games.

“Were expecting a bit more out of Dave.”

But Meninga opted to launch a charm offensive on Friday.

“He’s the fittest I have ever seen him and going gangbusters,” he said.

“Dave has a chance now to cement his place back in the side if he plays well on Wednesday.”

At 188cm and 122kg, Taylor is one of the more intimidating sights in rugby league.

But Meninga hoped Taylor learned in Origin camp what mattered most to be a rugby league success.

“Origin is all about the mental and emotional approach to it all,” he said.

“We have to get them engaged so that they are willing to do anything possible to win a footy game.

“It’s not about the physicality and skill – it’s about decision making.

“That’s why they are a great side. When the chips are down, they make the right decision – that’s where we need to get to.

“I didn’t question their effort or attitude in game one (won 12-8 by NSW) – we just didn’t execute.”