Despite missing out on State of Origin selection, Gold Coast Titans playmaker Scott Prince reckons he will still be wearing maroon on Wednesday night.

"I will have a pair of maroon undies on, sitting on the lounge with the family watching the (Origin) game," Prince laughed.

While experiencing a "deep-seated pain" when the Origin I team was initially announced, Prince now holds no hard feelings ahead of the series opener at Melbourne.

"Not at all. They (Queensland) have picked the best team, they are in form at the moment - hopefully Queensland can get up," Prince said on Tuesday.

NSW's last minute call-up of Titans teammate Anthony Laffranchi for the injured Paul Gallen has buoyed Prince ahead of the interstate series.

"It just shows that you have to be ready at all times," Prince said on Tuesday.

"Certainly in this series, injuries can happen and I've just got to be working my butt off playing good football for my club and hopefully get an opportunity if it presents itself."

An injury to Darren Lockyer allowed Prince to take part in Origin II and III last season as the Maroons won their third straight series.

As expected Lockyer returned to team up with Johnathan Thurston in the Maroon halves for Wednesday night's Origin I at Etihad Stadium.

But that didn't make it any easier for Prince to stomach.

"When the Origin squads were named, although I knew I was only an outside chance, there was still a deep-seated pain because I knew what I would not experience," Prince wrote in his The Gold Coast Bulletin column.

Titans coach John Cartwright took his hat off to Prince after his co-captain shrugged off the bitter disappointment ahead of their Monday night Skilled Park clash with the Dragons.

"It's just a sign of his professionalism, he puts the team before himself every time - and this week will be no different," he said on Tuesday.

"You feel for him, you know he would love to be out there but...this time last year he was sitting here with us and he played game two and three."

While Cartwright felt for Prince, he was sure glad he had his prized halfback available when he named an extended squad for Monday night's showdown.

They will be sweating on the fitness of their Origin reps Luke Bailey, Laffranchi and Ashley Harrison while Brad Meyers has been named to replace injured backrower Mark Minichiello (ankle, knee; 2-4 weeks).

Prop Matt White has been named on an extended bench, putting him on track to play NRL for the first time since copping a three week ban for a crusher tackle in round seven.

Forwards Josh Graham, Daniel Conn and Aaron Cannings are believed to be on standby for their Origin trio.

St George-Illawarra are the only team the Titans have not beaten since their 2007 inception.

Their head-to-head record currently stands at 0-5.

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