Ben Hunt has declared he will be fit and ready to play for the Queensland Maroons on Wednesday night after training strongly in a field session on Friday.
The 28-year-old Maroons half has been battling a corked thigh and was moving gingerly on Thursday while wearing a guard on his leg.
He came out for Friday's session and moved with fluency and on completing the session confirmed he was right to go for the opening match of the Holden State of Origin series in Melbourne on June 6.
"I had a really good session today. I got through the whole session. I felt pretty good," Hunt said.
"I am definitely playing. That was the main test today and I got through it comfortably, so I will only get better from here.
"Kevvie [Walters] asked me how it went and I said I had no issues so we are all good."
Hunt said the injury was getting better the more he trained, in a positive sign for the coming days.
Maroons medicos have been working around the clock to get Hunt right to make what will be his starting debut for Queensland.
"I was running freely actually. The warmer I got the better I got so it will only get better from here," Hunt said.
"Yesterday was a big thing, just moving helped me free up the area. I iced it up last night and it felt a lot better today.
"I've been having a couple of massages a day, the physios have been getting stuck into my leg and it's come up well.
"I can't wait now, I'm looking forward to doing the best I can next week."
The Maroons have the day off on Saturday and will train again on Sunday.
Coach Kevin Walters told NRL.com he would make the final call then but shared Hunt's optimism.
"He's heading in the right direction," Walters said.
"We'll make a final decision on Sunday. He looks to be in good shape."
Anthony Milford had been training with the Maroons but Queensland forward said Hunt was vital to the Maroons. He said Hunt had proven he could come into the side and make a difference.
"I don't think we had a Plan B so I think Hunt's playing," Cooper grinned.
"A few of the boys came into camp to help us out and obviously Milf has played Origin before so he knows what it is all about.
"Hunty only got a couple of games in game three last year but he's not coming in to be Cooper Cronk. Everyone talks about big shoes to fill and it is the same with Macca.
"Macca is coming in to give his best impression of himself. He's not coming in to be Cameron Smith. I don't think anyone is ever going to be another Cameron Smith and no-one is going to be another Cooper Cronk, so both those boys are in there on their own merit and they will do fine."
Maroons prop Jarrod Wallace agreed it would take more than a cork to stop Hunt.
"Ben Hunt will play," he said.
"He ran around with us today. I can tell you now he would have a broken leg and still go out and play. It's just a cork, he had a full session today and went fine."
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