BRISBANE - Queensland will take a gamble on hooker Cameron Smith's fitness when they announce their 17-man State of Origin squad on Tuesday afternoon for the opening game in Sydney on Wednesday week.
After declaring last week they would not risk any players carrying injuries, selectors are set to nameSmith in the No 9 jumper then give him until late in the weekend to show he's recovered sufficiently from an elbow injury suffered in the Anzac test against the Kiwis.
The gamble will be lessened with Manly rake Matt Ballin tipped to enter the team's camp at Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast as back up for Smith.
Should Smith fail to come through a series of heavy contact drills on his suspect elbow at the weekend, it's understood that 26-year-old Ballin, from Nanango, will make his Origin debut.
Smith has played in every Origin game since making his debut in third game of the 2003 series.
His 19 successive Origins sits just five behind Gary Larson's record of 24 straight games.
Selectors will give young forward giant Dave Taylor his childhood wish with an Origin debut off the bench in a move to off-set Blues' impact rookie Jamal Idris who has been named to play his first Origin.
The only contentious selection for Des Morris, Gene Miles and Alan Smith will be the make up of Queensland's interchange bench.
Storm halfback Cooper Cronk, who has already played for Australia, will get code jumper Karmichael Hunt's utility role off the bench.
The two remaining spots will be between Cowboys toiler Matt Scott, who's done the job before, hardman Neville Costigan, another of coach Mal Meninga's favourite Origin-style players, and North Queensland's wide-running Scott Bolton who could be the bolter in the 17-man squad.
The team will be announced at a corporate lunch in Brisbane this afternoon.
The players will go into camp until flying to Sydney the day before the game.
Under Meninga, Queensland have won a record four straight series.
But NSW, who avoided a whitewash with a win in a fiery final game last year, have vowed to end their reign this year.
