Incoming Blues centre Bradman Best says Knights teammate and Maroons veteran Dane Gagai's record of rising to the occasion in the Origin arena is not causing him any nerves ahead of the pair lining up directly across from one another in Wednesday's decider.
On receiving the call for his second Origin appearance as injury replacement to Latrell Mitchell, the young Gamilaroi star faced fitness concerns of his own undergoing scans and being held off from full training duties with a hamstring issue.
The 22-year-old is understood to have completed his first full session with the squad on Saturday before declaring he's "all good" to go in speaking to media on Monday.
Best is set to run out at left centre, directly opposed to Gagai - who returns for his first State of Origin appearance since 2022 after 22 appearances and 12 tries across eight series for Queensland.
"I reckon it's going to be a good contest," with someone who had "basically" been a mentor, Best said.
He was tight-lipped on whether the pair were all across each other's secrets, but said he was "looking forward" to the test, and "not worried..I've just got to worry about myself" when asked about Gagai's customary performances in a Maroons jumper.
The Blues defence will also have to contend with another teammate of Best's in Kalyn Ponga, who'll come off the bench for what will also be his first taste of Origin since 2022, and on swift return after playing just one game for Newcastle back from injury.
"We've spoken about it as a team. We all know what type of player is. He's got x-factor," Best said of the Knights captain.
Best himself will be looking to recreate the form he produced on Origin debut in last year's game three after missing the opening two games of this year's series.
He crossed over twice in NSW's 24-10 win in Sydney, and said he is looking to go out and "do my job" in front of a Brisbane crowd on Wednesday.
"I got a taste of it last year, and I obviously want to go out there and replicate that," he said.
"Obviously you always want to play. I was just proud of the boys and what they did there in game two, and I guess everything happens for a reason and I'm back here now.
NSW are aiming to reverse an early lead handed to Queensland in game one before squaring the ledger at the MCG with the rare chance to clinch bragging rights at Suncorp Stadium, while Queensland will hope to make it three-straight series wins at home on Wednesday.
