Queensland have arrived in Sydney ahead of Wednesday night's opening State of Origin clash with coach Mal Meninga declaring rookie hooker Matt Ballin up to the task of replacing injured star Cameron Smith.

Ballin will make his representative debut at ANZ Stadium and the Manly rake is sure to be targeted by the big NSW forwards keen to stop Queensland's momentum around the ruck.

Smith has been a mainstay of Queensland's record four straight series wins but was forced to pull out of the match at the weekend due the elbow injury he sustained in Australia's Test win over New Zealand earlier this month.

Ballin has been with the side throughout the camp and Meninga said he had already developed a good understanding with halves Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer.

"He's very composed, he's played in big games, he's been part of the system for the last couple of years," Meninga said of Ballin shortly after arriving at Sydney Airport on Tuesday.

"He knows what it takes to wear the Maroon jersey ... he still has to get out there and experience what Origin's all about but I firmly believe that he's up to it."

The Maroon will hold their final training run at what will be a sodden ANZ Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier, Maroons fullback Billy Slater said, "It's been a great preparation."

"We've been pretty relaxed away from training but once we get into team meetings and training we're pretty intense.

"The training sessions have been really good and it's almost time to throw the switch."

Apart from the loss of Smith to injury - a significant blow given he has played in every game during the Maroons' record four series-winning streak - things have gone smoothly for coach Mal Meninga.

The focus of the week in camp was re-establishing a solid preparation after copping a lot of criticism for their build-up to the third game last year which they lost to the Blues.

However, the players took some time out to relax on Monday, some playing golf or going deep sea fishing while Greg Inglis was one who went swimming with the sharks at Underwater World at Mooloolaba.

Punters have unloaded heavily on NSW with bookies across the country and Queensland - early favourites when the teams were announced last week - could go into the game as slight underdogs.

NSW have two home games and the feeling is they must win the opener in Sydney or they could struggle to beat the Maroons at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium in the return game when Smith should be back in his No.9 jumper.

Seven members of coach Mal's Meninga's Maroons, who started Queensland's record Origin streak in 2006, will be part of a push for a fifth straight series win.

The formula for Queensland's record success over New South Wales in recent years can be summed up in one word - solidarity.

Johnathan Thurston (12 games), Smith (12), Petero Civoniceva (11), Nate Myles (11), Darren Lockyer (10), Greg Inglis (10), Sam Thaiday (9) and Matt Scott (2) were all graduates of rookie coach Mal Meninga's class of 2006.

The Maroons were widely criticised for squandering a winning lead in the opening game in Sydney in 2006 - even though the final scoreline was only 17-16.

But, with inspirational Lockyer at the helm, they hit back to win the series 2-1, thus ending the Blues' unbeaten run that started in 2003.

Smith and halfback Thurston played in all 12 games.

Forward Myles would have been able to claim a place with Smith and Thurston as the only player involved in all 12 games but embarrassed himself by defecating in a hotel stairwell prior to Origin III last year.

Thurston emphasised the significance of Smith's loss on Monday, revealing he'd played all but two of his 31 representative games alongside him.

It's a similar story for Lockyer, Inglis and Billy Slater, all of whom have spent the past four or five years cashing in on Smith's service out of dummy half for Queensland and Australia.

"There's only two rep games in my career that I haven't played with Cam Smith, so he's been an important part of my rep career and obviously a very important part of this team," Thurston said.

It's no coincidence Queensland have won eight of the past 12 Origins and the last four series with Smith calling the plays in the No.9 jumper.

After losing the first two games of 2003 with PJ Marsh and Michael Crocker starting at hooker, selectors handed a young Smith his Origin debut for the third game at Suncorp Stadium.

Queensland won 36-6.

Inglis has been confirmed a definite starter following a nasty head clash with teammate Willie Tonga at training on Sunday.

Inglis was clearly shaken by the mishap but suffered only a mild case of concussion and will line-up on Wednesday night for his 11th Origin.

"Greggy (Inglis) didn't finish the session (on Sunday) but I spoke to him last night and he's alright," said Thurston.

"I didn't hear the crack of heads but when I saw them both on the ground I thought: 'wow, here we go again'."

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