State of Origin referee Tony Archer says he won't hesitate in giving someone their marching orders if players take matters into his own hands in Wednesday night's series opener.

Archer famously sent off NSW forward Trent Waterhouse in the dying stages of last year's series finale after he arrived late to take out Maroons prop Steve Price - who had been knocked out just moments before the Waterhouse impact.

With talk of bad blood spilling over into revenge at ANZ Stadium, Archer warned both teams that any perceived latitude given in Origin would not stretch to acts of foul play.

"I think at this time of year in relation to Origin this (bad blood) is always talked up, they know the consequences of what happens and we'll deal with what unfolds in front of us," Archer said.

"Players know that everyone goes out in a game and tries to be aggressive, but they know the consequences of crossing the line, they know we'll deal with it and they really can't afford it at the end of the day.

"Of course (I'd send someone off again) and I think they know that, to play short in Origin is really tough."

Archer claims suggestions rules are relaxed during Origin was more perception than fact.

"It's not so much the latitude, the situation is you've got the best 34 players in the world playing, they play at speed, they play fast and the ball stays in play," Archer said.

"Because the game's more continuous, that's why there's a suggestion there's more latitude."

Archer will again share duties with Shayne Hayne, the pair having also done the job in all three games last year.

The will split responsibility for being the control referee, with Hayne adamant neither would allow emotions to get out of hand in what is sure to be a frenzied atmosphere.

"You get a sense of the intensity out on the field and we'll deal with that as necessary," Hayne said.

"As Tony (Archer) said, if it gets out of hand we'll deal with it, but it is Origin footy and the intensity is very high."

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