Queensland will take match-winning skipper Darren Lockyer out of cotton wool on Friday.

Lockyer's failure to train for the first two days of Origin camp has triggered concerns in some quarters about his troublesome knee.

After a five minute appearance at training on Wednesday before retiring to apply an ice pack to his right knee, Lockyer failed to train at all at Redcliffe Oval on Thursday.

Lockyer's 52 minute comeback from minor clean-up surgery on his knee against Parramatta last Friday night was all Queensland selectors needed to rush him back into the side for next Wednesday's clash with NSW at Suncorp Stadium.

Despite rumblings that all may not be right with the champion five-eighth, Lockyer and Queensland insist it was always the plan to give him a week off after his comeback game.

"I'll be running tomorrow," said Lockyer after helping coach Mal Meninga and assistant Neil Henry supervise today's training session in front of 500 fans at Dolphin Oval.

"That was always the plan."

Lockyer's right hand was feeling more pain than his knee after he was swamped for autographs at the end of the 60 minute session before being rescued by team officials.

Despite their assurances, it will be a relief for the Maroons to actually see Lockyer running with the side on the weekend.

Queensland forward Michael Crocker said Lockyer's presence would help halfback Johnathan Thurston rediscover his best form on Wednesday night.

Crocker believes Thurston took on too much responsibility in Origin I in Sydney last month and will appreciate having Lockyer calling the shots.

"With Thirsty I definitely think it's not through lack of trying, if anything he was guilty of trying too hard to come up with the big plays," Crocker said.

"Locky is really going to help him and take the little bit of pressure off him and he'll be able to play his natural game."

UK-bound Crocker said he wanted to "soak up" his last Origin after national coach Ricky Stuart revealed he'd virtually ended his Test career by deciding to head overseas to play in England.

Crocker still wants to play for Australia in the end-of-year World Cup but ruled out an approach to Stuart to plead his case.

"I'd love to (play for Australia)," he said.

"I don't really think it's up to me to plead my case, I'll be a long way away and I've got to play good football and not worry about it I guess.

"It's not really in my hands."

The Queensland team will shift camp to Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast tomorrow after attending a corporate lunch at Brisbane's XXXX Brewery.

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