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By the end of Wednesday night, either New South Wales will have successfully defended their State of Origin shield, or Queensland will have regained it after their eight-year dynasty ended last year.
The Blues are unchanged from the side that won in Melbourne three weeks ago, however hooker Robbie Farah still remains in doubt after injuring his hand playing for the Wests Tigers against Penrith just over a week ago.
More 2015 State of Origin:
» State of Origin news
» State of Origin fixtures
» State of Origin teams
» State of Origin 2015: Game 3 preview
» Why NSW will win Game 3
» Why the Maroons will win Game 3
If he is not passed fit, Michael Ennis, who hasn’t played Origin since 2011, will take his place.
Meanwhile, the Maroons have made several changes as they attempt to win back the series, with Cooper Cronk and Josh Papalii coming back in, while Dane Gagai makes his debut.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Josh McGuire have both been omitted, while Billy Slater was ruled out due to a shoulder injury for which he has undergone season-ending surgery. This sees Greg Inglis move to fullback, Will Chambers move into the centres and Gagai on the wing.
Let’s have a look at each of the two squads:
Queensland
Greg Inglis, Darius Boyd, Will Chambers, Justin Hodges, Dane Gagai, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (c), Nate Myles, Aidan Guerra, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker.
Interchange: Michael Morgan, Josh Papalii, Matt Gillett, Jacob Lillyman.
18th man: Edrick Lee.
New South Wales
Josh Dugan, Will Hopoate, Josh Morris, Michael Jennings, Brett Morris, Mitchell Pearce, Trent Hodkinson, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah, James Tamou, Beau Scott, Ryan Hoffman, Paul Gallen (c).
Interchange: Trent Merrin, Boyd Cordner, David Klemmer, Josh Jackson.
18th man: Tariq Sims. 19th man: Ryan Hinchcliffe. 20th man: Michael Ennis
Why the Maroons will win
Not only will the Maroons be desperate to reclaim the Origin crown, they will also want to win it for veteran centre Justin Hodges, playing his last game in the Origin arena.
The 35-year-old has come a long way since making his debut in Game 2 of the 2002 series, in which he produced two in-goal clangers to gift two tries to NSW, though the Maroons won 26-18.
The Maroons also have the-ground advantage and thus the crowd behind them.
Why the Blues will win
The Blues will still be brimming with confidence following their against-the-odds Game 2 victory in Melbourne, and with an unchanged line-up should fancy their chances.
They also proved that they could win in enemy territory, as they did in Game 1 last year en route to their first Origin series victory since 2005. The burning question is whether they can win their first decider in Brisbane since 2005.
The Blues need strong performances from fullback Josh Dugan, halves Mitchell Pearce and Trent Hodkinson, and captain Paul Gallen if they are to have any chance of retaining their shield.
The verdict
With the home ground advantage, Queensland start as favourites, and as they did for Darren Lockyer and Petero Civoniceva in 2011 and 2012 respectively, the Maroons will be out to ensure that Justin Hodges departs the Origin arena a winner.
The Blues will be out to spoil those celebrations while at the same time attempt to prove that last year’s series victory was no fluke. And they’ll want to do it for their captain Paul Gallen, whose Origin future still hangs in the balance as his playing career heads into its twilight years.
Prediction
Queensland by 12 points.
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