NSW skipper Kurt Gidley has called for coach Craig Bellamy to return for a third campaign with the Blues no matter the result in Wednesday's Origin III against Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.

Bellamy is believed to be undecided about his Origin future heading into the match, with NSW attempting to avoid a series clean sweep, having already given up a record four straight series wins to the Maroons.

The Blues have lost the last two campaigns under Bellamy, but Gidley said the Melbourne Storm mentor was still the best man for the job.

"He's a really passionate bloke about NSW - I love being coached by him," Gidley said.

"He can only do so much - the players have got to take some responsibility out on the field in what we do.

"Whenever he talks to the players as a group, you can see it does come from the heart.

"Certainly as a player looking toward your coach, that's exactly what you want."

The uncertainty over Bellamy's future is matched by the cloud over Queensland captain Darren Lockyer's representative career.

It is believed Lockyer will quit Origin football after Wednesday night's game to concentrate on his NRL career with Brisbane, but the Maroons and Australian captain has refused to confirm what his future holds.

Both sides received good news on the injury front on Tuesday with Gidley saying he would play with the aid of painkilling injections for his battered ribs, though Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten remains on standby.

Queensland confirmed prop Steve Price would play despite being floored by a virus.

The Maroons go into the game as $1.50 favourites, though the Blues have firmed into $2.50 chances.

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