Queensland skipper Darren Lockyer says complacency won't be an issue despite his side boasting more than three times the State of Origin caps of their NSW rivals.

Maroons selectors made only two changes to the team announced on Tuesday which completed Queensland's third successive Origin series victory last year in Sydney.

Five-eighth Lockyer returns after being sidelined for all of last year's series with a knee injury, pushing Scott Prince out, while Justin Hodges, who missed games two and three last year through suspension, replaces injured Warrior Brent Tate in the centres.

But the Brisbane back won't train until Sunday due to a hamstring problem which has kept him out for the past month.

The only other selection talking point was Michael Crocker, named on the bench after only two NRL games since joining South Sydney following his UK work visa refusal.

Queensland can become the first team in Origin history to win four straight series, but Lockyer said the team's attitude would be kept in check.

"I think it needs to be mentioned, when you've won three series in a row and everyone is making you favourites," Lockyer said.

"One thing we know is that NSW is going to be hungry to win.

"Queensland were in a similar situation after losing three series not long ago so we know how we felt back then.

"We've got a talented team but we've got to make sure we've got the right attitude."

Queensland coach Mal Meninga said selection was a "fairly easy process".

"We discussed some other players who were on the fringe... like David Shillington and Matt Scott (18th man), guys like that who are playing really good rugby league at the moment for their clubs," Meninga said.

"We showed a fair bit of faith and loyalty with the current bunch of players and we're really happy with the squad."

Loyalty was also behind his decision to hand Melbourne and Australian fullback Billy Slater the starting jersey ahead of Karmichael Hunt, saying the Brisbane custodian offered ideal versatility off the bench.

Meninga believed Crocker's fitness was up to scratch and said he offered a lot to the side.

"You can't beat experience in this type of arena and the players love playing with him and that's really important and I'm quite certain that NSW players don't like playing against him."

Experience is something the Maroons have in spades over the Blues, who named eight debutants, with Queensland boasting 182 caps to NSW's 57.

However Meninga didn't doubt that NSW would be committed and enthusiastic.

"They're going to be committed between the ears, they don't want to be the first team to lose four in a row so that's the challenge that we've got," he said.

"They're going to be out there to prove themselves."

"We've got to live with favouritism and all those factors, we know we'll have to play really well a good attitude to have a chance of winning the series."

He said his job as coach was to ensure the Maroons were "hungry".

"Origin footy's not about talent or the skill level it's about who wants to win the game more, it's between the ears that really matters at this type of level.

"That's my charter as coach, to make sure that we don't get complacent, that we don't think we've won the game on paper, that we turn up on the night and put the desired effort in and have the right attitude to win the game."

Queensland team:

Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Israel Folau, Darren Lockyer (capt), Johnathan Thurston, Steve Price, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Ashley Harrison, Sam Thaiday, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Karmichael Hunt, Ben Hannant, Nate Myles, Michael Crocker.

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