It's almost impossible to imagine the hype, emotion and hysteria that will greet Darren Lockyer's 36th and final State of Origin for Queensland at Suncorp Stadium next month.

His swansong will either be a series decider or the celebration of back-to-back clean sweeps by the most successful Queensland side in Origin history.

NSW can set the scene for one of the most emotion-charged games played at the famous Brisbane ground - formerly known as Lang Park - if they keep the series alive with a victory at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Wednesday night.

If they do, coach Mal Meninga and Lockyer will head home for a clash that will capture the hearts and minds of Queensland fans desperately hoping their favourite player bows out in style.

The game sold out in less than an hour with fans wanting to be part of Lockyer's last hurrah.

Queensland gave Wally Lewis a magnificent series-deciding 14-12 farewell 21 years ago.

It was the third match of the 1991 series at Lang Park and the crowd only found out 15 minutes from fulltime it was the King's 32nd and last game.

The game was on knife edge at halftime when an emotional Lewis - who'd only just learned his young daughter Jamie Lee had been diagnosed as profoundly deaf - told close friend and former Queensland team manager Dick Turner in the dressing room he was retiring.

Lewis then told Turner before Queensland went back out for the second half to get word to ground announcer Garry Clare of his decision.

Retiring QRL boss Ross Livermore finally delivered the message and when Clare broke the news to fans midway through the second half Queensland were never going to lose with the crowd roaring them home.

Lockyer has sidestepped all the talk of Queensland winning for him and he's so far done a reasonable job of keeping much of the focus on the game and his players.

But, should the series-deciding scenario unfold next week, even he, with his amazing composure and calmness, will not be able to escape the fanfare and build-up surrounding his last game in maroon.

"It's no more important (to me) than any other series. You want to win them all, but they're not easy to win," Lockyer said this week when asked for the umpteenth time if this series was any more special because it was his last.

There's more chance of Benny Elias being elected Queensland's next premier than there is of Lockyer putting any pressure on his teammates to win a game for him.

That's not to say the players he's led and inspired to many Origin wins since 1998 don't feel a need or indeed a deep responsibility and desire to repay him with something special.

"I think either way, if we wrap it up in Sydney or we go to a decider (in Brisbane), it will be a massive night for everyone," said hooker Cameron Smith, the man who will take over Lockyer's role as captain.

"The emotions, though, would be even higher if we head back to Brisbane for a decider in Locky's last Origin, that's for sure.

"And there'd be a lot more nerves, too, just quietly."

Smith said Queensland's focus was on preparing well and wrapping up the series against a NSW side desperate to avoid a sixth straight loss.

"They've got a very good side with more points in them and we know we have to play a lot better down there and better than we did in the first game to wrap up the series.

"If we do that and get a win, the game up in Brisbane will just be Darren Lockyer week."

Halfback Johnathan Thurston, who still marvels at Lockyer's professionalism and work ethic and refers to him as a "father figure", says going back to Brisbane with their series in the bag would be every Queensland player's wish.

"That's the fairytale," he said after being reunited with Lockyer at Camp Coolum on the Sunshine Coast this week.

But he quickly cautioned: "They quite often don't come true."

Thurston said Lockyer, who has been asked about his last series at almost every interview he's given recently, walked into camp this week like he'd done every year since they'd been playing Origin together.

"Nothing changes with Locky. He still prepares better than any player I know and he's just the best," added Thurston.

Similar to Smith, the Cowboys co-captain struggled to put into words the emotion of such a night at Suncorp when the curtain falls on Lockyer's magnificent Origin career.

"The emotions will no doubt be riding high whatever the night offers," said Thurston.

"Hopefully we can get the job done in Sydney and make sure it's a big celebration for Locky and Queensland fans who want to see him go out a winner after all he's done for the state."

Lockyer has told Queensland officials he doesn't want anything special made of his last game at Suncorp Stadium on July 6.

"Locky doesn't want anything at all," said Livermore.

"We honour his achievements before the game with a tribute playing on the big screen, but nothing involving Darren because he doesn't want it."

The satisfaction of winning will be enough for Lockyer, as it always has.

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