Queensland veteran Steph Hancock has put retirement plans aside and made herself available for the women's inaugural Women's State Of Origin clash.
Last year Hancock announced she'd be quitting representative football following November's World Cup.
But newly installed Maroons coach Jason Hetherington confirmed the 36-year-old mother of one is "keen to play" and said her selection was dependant on whether she recovers from a niggling ankle injury in time.
After leading the Jillaroos to World Cup glory the long-serving forward was quick to commit to another year of club football, and voiced her intentions to pull on the Queensland jersey one final time.
"If I'm still playing good footy and cutting it against those young buggers, and they say to me that my spot is still there, by all means I would definitely have one more crack at NSW," Hancock said in December.
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Her return would be a major boost for a previously dominant Maroons side eager to avoid a third successive defeat to the Blues.
Even more so given Renae Kunst is sticking with her retirement plans.
Hetherington has already picked an extended squad that's been meeting for training in a bid to get an advantage over their NSW adversaries.
"You've got to give yourself every opportunity," Hetherington said.
"It's a bit of a process at the moment, and planning for the next three years on what we want.
"It's all coming together well but it will take time. I think I can come up with a really good squad of 18.
"We've done really well at 26 and we're at 22 now, and we've got the nationals coming up shortly. That's going to play a big part in what I do."
