Queensland say there will be no curve ball and Anthony Milford - not Michael Morgan - will start the State of Origin series in place of injured maestro Johnathan Thurston.
Thurston's withdrawal on Thursday prompted speculation experienced playmaker Morgan could be promoted from bench utility to fill the key role at five eighth in game one at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
But halfback Cooper Cronk expects 22-year-old Milford to start at five eighth after being named in that spot originally with Thurston as 18th man while he was attempting to prove his fitness.
"I wouldn't have thought so," Cronk said of the Morgan option.
"There's that flexibility to be able to do that but I am sure Kevvie (coach Kevin Walters) is a man of his word and the way he went about naming the team - Milford will be there.
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"The thing Morgan has done the last few series is bring impact off the bench so if you move him around it changes the dynamic.
"It should be as named, I would say."
Cronk looked forward to providing Milford an Origin crash course this week but admitted he had no idea what to expect from their new combination.
No wonder.
Cronk - who will celebrate his 20th Origin game next week - has never played for a Queensland side without Thurston since his 2010 Maroons debut.
Since combining in the halves with Thurston in 2012, Queensland lost both games - in 2014 and 2015 - when they were without Cronk at halfback.
Now the jury is out on how the Maroons survive life without Thurston.
"There's an opportunity it could be really good and there is an opportunity it might not be good - that is the honest truth," Cronk said of his budding combination with Milford.
"We haven't played together. But I will work my backside off this week to try and fast track that preparation.
"I am happy to take extra responsibility."
Cronk said he wouldn't deny livewire half Milford playing his natural game.
"If he sees something he has every right to call (for the ball), there's no ranking in our team," Cronk said.
"With the general running of team he won't have to worry too much about that - what Milf brings is that one-on-one ability to explode and beat someone."
