Both coaches have resisted the urge to make late changes after the final line-ups have been announced one hour out from Origin III kick-off at Accor Stadium.

The Blues have made a host of changes to the team that was thrashed 32-6 in Origin II and there had been speculation that uncapped reserve Spencer Leniu could be a late inclusion.

But coach Brad Fittler hosed down that possibility at his final pre-game media conference on Tuesday and the Blues will be 1-17 with Scott Drinkwater the standby player on the interchange, as expected.

NSW have one last chance to salvage some pride from the 2023 State of Origin series while Queensland are out for Blues murder.

There has not been a series sweep since the Maroons took all three games in 2010 while NSW last won 3-0 back in 2000 when Ryan Girdler went on a record-breaking pointscoring spree.

Queensland made just two changes due to Tom Flegler being injured and Reece Walsh copping a ban for abusing a referee with Corey Horsburgh to make his debut and AJ Brimson elevated to the starting line-up at fullback.

Maroons coach Billy Slater made late changes to his pack in each of the first two games but has opted against elevating Origin II player of the match Lindsay Collins into the run-on team after his barnstorming effort in Brisbane.

Tom Dearden will be their 18th player with uncapped Eels forward J’maine Hopgood the unused reserve.

>> FULL ORIGIN TEAM NEWS

Here is how each team will line up for Wednesday night’s 8pm kick-off at Accor Stadium with squads now finalised an hour before kick-off.

How they’ll line up

NSW Blues

1. Fullback – James Tedesco (captain)
Age: 30
Origins: 21
Origin tries: 7
Retains his spot in the side despite form concerns and stiff challenges from Dylan Edwards and Scott Drinkwater. The heart and soul of the Blues for so long, Tedesco will be desperate to reassert his Origin credentials and save his side from a series whitewash.

2. Winger – Brian To’o
Age: 24
Origins: 8
Origin tries: 3
His carries out of yardage will be crucial for the Blues, who will hope he can imprint himself on the contest at the other end of the field more than he did in the opening two games.

3. Centre – Stephen Crichton
Age: 22
Origins: 5
Origin tries: 1
How differently might things have gone if he could have sealed the run-away try that looked so likely when he burst down the edge in Origin II? Crichton can be relied upon on the big stage and has lit Accor Stadium up in back-to-back NRL grand final wins for Penrith.

4. Centre – Bradman Best
Age: 21
Origins: 0
Origin tries: 0
Will be out to prove his surprise selection was no fluke. There is no denying Best’s power as a ball-runner when he’s in his groove, but faces a tough challenge coming up against veteran Val Holmes and Queensland’s water-tight edge defence.

5. Winger – Josh Addo-Carr
Age: 27
Origins: 14
Origin tries: 10
Quiet in the first two games of the series but that could all change with a new halves combination inside him. Only two four-pointers off becoming the Blues’ outright highest try-scorer, and wouldn’t it be something if he could break the record in front of home fans.

6. Five-eighth – Cody Walker
Age: 33
Origins: 4
Origin tries: 1
Fittler’s biggest selection call was dropping Jarome Luai for Walker but there can be no denying the South Sydney five-eighth’s form this season. Has more try assists to his name than any other half this season, but we’re yet to see his best at Origin level. Can he salvage a win and prove he’s deserving of a spot into 2024?

7. Halfback – Mitchell Moses
Age: 28
Origins: 2
Origin tries: 0
Was fine on his return to the Origin arena in game two without solving the execution problems that plagued the Blues in the series opener. Expect him to once again take on the bulk of kicking duties, freeing Walker up to play eyes-up footy on the left edge.

8. Prop – Jake Trbojevic
Age: 29
Origins: 15
Origin tries: 1
The latest Blue to come into the Origin series on the back of limited game time. Trbojevic’s calf injury was supposed to rule him out of the whole series, but Fittler couldn’t resist picking the tried-and-true Manly man when he put in a big effort for the Sea Eagles in round 18.

9. Hooker – Damien Cook
Age: 32
Origins: 16
Origin tries: 3
Had a tough day out replacing the injured Tom Trbojevic at centre in Origin II so will feel much more at home in his preferred position of hooker. All going smoothly, he and Robson will provide the one-two dummy-half punch Fittler had envisaged for game two, similar to that which works so well for the Maroons.

10. Prop – Reagan Campbell-Gillard
Age: 29
Origins: 2
Origin tries: 0
Could barely walk this time two months ago after suffering a horror groin injury but will need to be at his fittest and most powerful to help fill the hole left by Payne Haas. He’s accustomed to setting the tone for Parramatta, and a strong start will be vital for the Blues.

11. Second Row – Liam Martin
Age: 26
Origins: 8
Origin tries: 1
Was the Blues’ hitman from the bench in the first two games but takes on a different role by slotting into a completely different starting second row to that fielded in the first two games. The Maroons will cop an earful of his famously fiery chatter from the opening whistle.

12. Second Row – Keaon Koloamatangi
Age: 25
Origins: 0
Origin tries: 0
The second of Fittler’s debutants for game two after knocking on the door for the past two seasons. The Blues have chopped and changed their back row in recent years, so while the series may be dead, there’ll be no shortage of motivation with a spot potentially there for the taking.

13. Lock – Cameron Murray
Age: 25
Origins: 12
Origin tries: 1
Comes into the starting side in place of Yeo after being underused in Origin II. His groin injury is now well-and-truly in the past and he’ll be primed to make the most of the inclusion of Souths teammates Koloamatangi and Walker.

14. Bench – Isaah Yeo
Age: 28
Origins: 10
Origin tries: 0
Has become accustomed to playing 80 minutes at both club and Origin level but is poised to take a back seat with Murray starting. Likely to be used in a more traditional middle forward role than for his usual link-man ball-playing shtick.

15. Bench – Jacob Saifiti
Age: 27
Origins: 1
Origin tries: 1
Was the Blues’ best forward during his NSW debut in Origin III last year, but can he replicate that performance in another surprise call-up? May be relied upon for big minutes as the only out-and-out prop on a small Blues bench.

16. Bench – Reece Robson
Age: 25
Origins: 1
Origin tries: 0
A valiant effort to play 80 minutes at hooker on Origin debut at Suncorp Stadium. Showed he’s up to the bright lights of the Origin stage, and appears ready to lock down a spot long-term.

17. Bench – Clint Gutherson
Age: 28
Origins: 3
Origin tries: 0
Fittler has called him the NRL’s form player, begging the question why he wasn’t selected for Origin II – his effort-first approach to the game is pure Origin. Nevertheless, Gutherson’s versatility should help the Blues dodge their previous bench woes.

18. Reserve – Scott Drinkwater
Age: 26
Origins: 0
Origin tries: 0
After a breakout 2022, Drinkwater is scaling new heights for the Cowboys this year. Only exceptional circumstances will bring him into the game but his inclusion in the extended squad announces him as a future Origin player.

Queensland Maroons

1. Fullback – AJ Brimson
Age: 24
Origins: 3
Origin tries: 1
The Gold Coast fullback will play his first Origin game since 2021 and has earned his spot on the back of sparkling club form. Brimson has dazzling feet and brings the ball back with vim. Very safe under the high ball.

2. Winger – Xavier Coates
Age: 22
Origins: 7
Origin tries: 3
A slick finisher who uses his 194cm frame to provide dynamism in the air. Has been in superb form in this series and has forged a slick combination with right centre Valentine Holmes.

3. Centre – Valentine Holmes
Age: 27
Origins: 15
Origin tries: 13
Holmes became just the fourth player in Origin history to notch 100 points in the arena during game two. Now third on the all-time Origin try-scorer list behind Greg Inglis (18) and Darius Boyd (17).

4. Centre – Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Age: 21
Origins: 3
Origin tries: 4
The man known as ‘Hammer’ plays fullback for the Dolphins but has been just as dangerous as a right centre for the Maroons. A supreme athlete who can finish a movement and create something out of nothing.

5. Winger – Murray Taulagi
Age: 24
Origins: 3
Origin tries: 1
Taulagi uses his huge frame to great impact with his blockbusting runs. A proven finisher in clubland, he has also turned himself into an effective defender. Has saved several crucial tries already in this series.

6. Five-eighth – Cameron Munster
Age: 28
Origins: 17
Origin tries: 3
Munster has done just about everything in the game but has said his next aim is to be part of his first Origin clean sweep. When the game is on the line, Munster is the man who wants the ball in his hands more than any other.

7. Halfback – Daly Cherry-Evans (captain)
Age: 34
Origins: 21
Origin tries: 2
The oldest player on either side, Cherry-Evans has now led the Maroons to three series wins out of the past four. Is playing the best football of his career and was in stunning form in the 32-6 win in game two.

8. Prop – Reuben Cotter
Age: 24
Origins: 3
Origin tries: 0
Cotter has played every minute of his three Origin games. That says everything you need to know about the North Queensland warhorse who was man of the match in game one this year. The ultimate team man, built for Origin.

9. Hooker – Harry Grant
Age: 25
Origins: 7
Origin tries: 1
The Melbourne rake has been named to start after coming off the bench in the first two games. Grant’s dynamic running game and slick service from dummy-half make him a potent threat.

10. Prop – Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Age: 23
Origins: 11
Origin tries: 0
The Gold Coast captain has played 11 Origin games in a row for the Maroons and is one of the first picked. Already shaping as one of Queensland’s best props of the modern era at the age of 23. As potent in the 80th minute as he is in the first.

11. Second-row – David Fifita
Age: 23
Origins: 7
Origin tries: 0
Fifita has been earmarked for greatness since his junior days and this season he has lived up the hype that has surrounded his career. The Titans wrecking ball is making the tough carries and playing with maximum impact as a wide runner to be reckoned with.

12. Second-row – Jeremiah Nanai
Age: 20
Origins: 4
Origin tries: 1
The youngest member of the forward pack and the most exciting in open play. Few second-rowers possess Nanai’s freakish skill set. As dynamic in the air as an outside back, he also has the ball skills of a five-eighth.

13. Lock – Patrick Carrigan
Age: 25
Origins: 5
Origin tries: 0
Has emerged as a genuine leader of the Maroons forward pack in just his second series. Carrigan can be counted on to take it to the NSW pack with the uncompromising play that has become his trademark.

14. Bench: Ben Hunt
Age: 33
Origins: 16
Origin tries: 3
Hunt is now part of a dynamic one-two punch with fellow rake Harry Grant. Whether as a starter or off the bench, Hunt will make his tackles in the middle and provide guile around the ruck. A halfback in club football, he is a valuable asset should any injury befall the Maroons starting halves.

15. Bench: Lindsay Collins
Age: 27
Origins: 8
Origin tries: 0
The Sydney Roosters prop is the Maroons’ lucky charm. He has now played in three Origin series and has won all three. Grew up a fan of Maroons legend Nate Myles and plays with the same no-nonsense approach. A player his teammates hold in the highest of regard.

16. Bench: Moeaki Fotuaika
Age: 23
Origins: 5
Tries: 0
The Titans prop is another of the young brigade of Maroons forwards who has a decade of Origin football ahead of him. Fotuaika has great leg speed and a huge motor that makes him hard to stop and always in the contest.

17. Bench: Corey Horsburgh
Age: 25
Origins: 0
Origin tries: 0
The only debutant for the Maroons in this game, the man known as ‘Big Red’ is hard to miss on the park with his explosive style and high involvement. Has learned to channel his aggression for Canberra this year and can play on the edge or in the middle of the park.

18. Reserve: Tom Dearden
Age: 21
Origins: 1
Origin tries: 0
Dearden is the perfect choice as 18th man, providing cover mainly in the halves. Showed maturity beyond his years in last year’s decider when he was a late replacement for Munster and had a blinder at Suncorp Stadium.