Queensland have suffered another injury blow on the eve of the first match of the State of Origin series, with winger Dane Gagai in major doubt for the game with a compound dislocation of his finger.
The South Sydney star sustained the injury during a training session at the MCG on Tuesday morning less than 24 hours after fullback Billy Slater was ruled out for the Maroons with a hamstring problem.
In doubt: Dane Gagai suffered a finger injury at training.
Photo: AAP
The absence of Gagai could force the Maroons into a major backline reshuffle.
They were already having to replace Slater, but now could lose the Rabbitohs winger as well.
Anthony Milford, called into the squad alongside young gun Kalyn Ponga, had been tipped to be Slater's replacement, starting from the bench, with Michael Morgan to play fullback.
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However, both Milford and Ponga could now gain a spot in the Queensland side.
Called in: Anthony Milford is tipped to come off the bench for Queensland on Wednesday night.
Photo: AAP
With Gagai unlikely to play, the Maroons could be forced to shuffle Will Chambers to the wing, pitch Morgan in the centres ala game three last year, switch Cameron Munster to fullback and start Milford at No.6.
In such a scenario Ponga would become one of the least experienced debutants in Origin history, with just 22 NRL games under his belt, as a bench utility.
If there was a shred of good news in a nightmare 24 hours for the Maroons it came in the form of Ben Hunt, who carried a severe cork into Queensland camp, as he trained strongly for the Maroons in their final hit-out on Tuesday morning.
He had his right leg heavily strapped after suffering a knock to his quadriceps in the Dragons' loss to the Panthers on the eve of Origin selection.
Representative retiree Cameron Smith popped into Queensland training as the Maroons prepare for their first match since 2002 without either the Melbourne skipper, Slater, Johnathan Thurston or Cooper Cronk in their team.
NSW will cap their preparations with a session at the MCG later on Tuesday afternoon.
Adam Pengilly is a Sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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