Bulldog Willie Tonga may not automatically start in the centres if virus-stricken Josh Hannay loses his battle to play for Queensland in Wednesday night's State of Origin decider at the Telstra Dome.

Queensland was forced to rush Tonga, who played two Origins in 2004, to Melbourne late on Tuesday.

They could hold an unscheduled training run on Wednesday to give him one quick gallop with the side, devastated out wide by key injuries.

Hannay was initially a surprise selection to replace Steve Bell (fractured cheek) in the centres with Justin Hodges (hamstring), winger Greg Inglis (back fractures) and fullback Karmichael Hunt (broken foot) all unavailable for the decide.

A decision on Hannay, who played his one and only Origin in 2003, could be left until just before kick off.

If he can't play, there's a possibility utility Chris Flannery could get a call-up to start, with Tonga, who's played just one game back from a hamstring injury, being used off the bench.

Another option would be to swing Brisbane's Shaun Berrigan, who has played for Australia in the centres, into Hannay's position, although he's been very effective off the bench in the first two games.

"Shaun's played a role for us off the bench and he's been magnificent in the first two games," said coach Mal Meninga, who is optimistic Hannay will play despite struggling to leave his hotel bed.

"Josh was pretty crook this morning, but he's improved as the day's gone on and we're hoping it's only a 24-hour viral infection," added Meninga.

"We'll keep our finger crossed that he's right to go.

"We might go out tomorrow morning and run Willie in the side, just in case, which we will probably do.

"But we'll give Josh every possible opportunity."

Team doctor Roy Saunders said Hannay was heavily medicated after complaining of fevers, general aches and pains, lethargy and tiredness.

"We'll monitor his progress over the next 24 hours to see if how he goes and whether he's able to play or not.

"It'll become more and more evident during tomorrow whether he can play or not.

"I'd say he's a little bit worse than 50-50 at the moment.

Meninga, who has handled each injury loss without fuss, said Queensland would cope with whatever happened.

"Life's not about smooth sailing, these things are sent to test you," he said.

"With the psyche of the footy side, I don't it is going to disrupt us too much at all."

Meninga said he wasn't surprised NSW had given hooker Danny Buderus a crash kicking course to take some of the heat off halfback Craig Gower.

"I think Danny should be doing it anyway, he's a quality player and one of the best in our competition," said Meninga.

"I know he can kick well out of dummy half he just have to do it more often.

"He doesn't do it with the Knights because of Andrew Johns and his influence on the footy side.

"I'm pretty certain he can handle the job pretty good and we won't throwing all our defence at Gower because they have other options in fullback Brett Hodgson who kicks for the Tigers and also Ben Hornby who does it for the Dragons to worry about.

"They're a smart footy side, if we target Gower all the time, all of a sudden, Buderus is down the short side or he gets out of dummy half and breaks us down the middle or Hodgson might be a two pass kicker, so we have to be ready."

Meninga also admitted he didn't think Mark Gasnier would play the five-eighth's second receiver role.

"I think he'll have a roving role even playing a bit at fullback with Hodgson in the line, those kind of things might happen," he said.

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