The wait is nearly over with this year's State of Origin series opener hours away from kick off.
Sentiment around the game is Brad Fittler's New South Wales will take something miraculous to be beaten but despite their inexperience you'd have to be brave to write off Queensland, particularly with Wayne Bennett now at the helm.
While both states will need their entire 17 playing at the peak of their powers to salvage a result, there are three match-ups that stand out as crucial in determining a winner in game 1.
MORE: Everything you need to know about the 2020 State of Origin series | Bennett weighs in on Keary eligibility 'shemozzle'
Josh Papalii vs. Junior Paulo
Defences rarely give an inch in the middle of the field in Origin so the role the two front-rowers will play in building momentum with their runs, speed of play the balls and finding an offload will be imperative to the result. Papalii and Paulo are the two premier prop's in the NRL for their ability to play through the hands and create quick play the balls with footwork. Their input into their team's attack is just as significant as what they offer in defence.
The impact Papalii has at Origin level is well known. The Raiders front-rower has one of the best motors in the game and has a knack for turning the momentum around with his running. There's no doubt on paper New South Wales are the better attacking side, so Queensland will be looking outside the box for attacking opportunities, and Papalii's second-phase plays will be the start of that.
Paulo meanwhile is unrested at Origin level but looks very much up for the challenge. The Eels front-rower is described as a halfback in a prop's body, his ball-playing skills up there with the best in the competition. However, it remains to be seen how much this side of Paulo's game will be deployed in the series opener given the speed and importance of high completions. Where Paulo will have his impact is finding space in the middle with his footwork, and creating quick play the balls for Damien Cook to work some angles through the ruck. That remains the Blues most threatening attacking play.
Cameron Munster vs. Luke Keary
Blues fans have been desperate to get a glimpse of Keary at Origin level and get their wish this year. The three-time premiership Roosters star knows a thing or two about big games, and Wednesday night will be up a new kind of test. Questions follow Keary into this series opener given his slower than usual finish to the year for the Roosters and the fact this is his first Origin appearance. But the five-eighth possesses the incredible ability to always go looking for the game rather than wait for it to come to him, a crucial trait in the Origin arena. One of Keary's plays that you can expect Fittler to encourage is running the short-side, and Keary's partnership with clubmates Boyd Cordner and Daniel Tupou on the left edge will be a major factor.
His opposite number is a veteran at state level, and is the man Maroons fans will be hoping can win the game for them. Munster, like Keary, plants himself in the thick of the action every time he steps on the field. It'll be interesting to see how much the unfamiliarity of playing in a new-look spine will impact Munster's game. While he knows Daly Cherry-Evans' style, he's yet to play alongside AJ Brimson and Jake Friend, and the fact Munster arrived late into camp means the partnerships haven't had much time to gel. The other concern here is his health. The Storm star suffered two medial ligament sprains during the season, and suffered a knock to the same knee in the finals. He's also stepped into camp on the back of some huge grand final celebrations with Melbourne, so it remains to be seen what kind of condition he'll be in for Queensland.
AJ Brimson vs. James Tedesco
A match-up that's hard to get a read on. Tedesco is the proven player at Origin level and was the man of the series in 2019, yet there's no arguing Brimson finished the season off in better form. The Blues rely so heavily on Tedesco and his partnership with Damien Cook, while Brimson could potentially be Queensland's game breaker, and if he plays like he did for the Titans this year it'll make the Maroons very tough to beat.
Brimson's energy and willingness to support will be massive if the Maroons are able to find some momentum and get ahead in the forwards battle. There's no doubt Fittler will be instructing his halves to target Brimson with plenty of early kicks to put the heat on the Maroons fullback to try and ruffle his feathers and try and eliminate him from the contest.
Overall, with the way the six again rule has promoted attacking through the ruck, it could come down to which team can find more opportunities in the middle of the field and utilise their fullbacks on the inside.
