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Both Queensland and New South Wales have made changes for Wednesday night's third State of Origin match after injury robbed them of a player each.
Queensland second-rower Jacob Lillyman has been ruled out with a fractured eye socket.
The Maroons have delayed naming a replacement until today, with Brisbane forward Dane Carlaw, who lined up against Penrith in the NRL last night, expected to be brought into the squad.
Blues centre Jamie Lyon pulled out of the NSW side, after succumbing to a hamstring injury picked up in Manly's loss to the Bulldogs last weekend.
Bulldogs goalkicking maestro Hazem El Masri will start on the wing for the Blues in his first Origin match, with Melbourne's Matt King moving to the centres.
An elated El Masri says he considered this year his last chance to play Origin football.
El Masri, 31, has been playing first grade football since 1996 and has represented City Origin six times, as well as playing one test for Australia in 2002.
"It just shows you never give up hope I guess, it doesn't matter when or why, you're time will come," El Masri said.
"The biggest thing for me is I don't want to let the boys down and the way my leg is at the moment I'm not sure I'd get through the match," Lyon said.
El Masri was praying at a mosque in Punchbowl when Blues officials called him. His goalkicking prowess got him the nod ahead of Parramatta winger Eric Grothe.
Lyon had further treatment on his hamstring on Friday but was unable to recover for the clash.
Queensland still have injury concerns over Justin Hodges (ankle) and Dallas Johnson (knee) but both are expected to play. Fullback Karmichael Hunt did not train on Friday due to a calf injury he picked up in training on Thursday and may need precautionary scans.
- Agencies