Queensland coach Kevin Walters has confirmed Ethan Lowe will replace veteran second-rower Matt Gillett in the State of Origin decider on Wednesday.
Gillett was ruled out on Tuesday with a groin issue, paving the way for South Sydney forward Lowe to make his Maroons debut after he pipped Canterbury enforcer Dylan Napa to the spot.
"Ethan Lowe was just presented his jersey and will be in the 17 tomorrow night," Walters said on NRL 360 on Tuesday night.
"It's a very exciting moment for myself and for Ethan to get his opportunity at this level. He's been in all our emerging programs and is a real Queensland kid from Goondiwindi.
"The look and feel in his eyes when he found out about it, he was a very excited young gentleman, I can tell you."
The withdrawal of Gillett, Queensland's most experienced forward, came about in bizarre circumstances on Tuesday morning.
A confident Walters at first assured reporters the Maroons back-rower would be given until kick-off to overcome a groin strain.
But soon after that assurance, a less upbeat Walters emerged from the ANZ Stadium dressing room to again assemble surprised media.
"We just tried to run him there in the warm-up and he is not coming up too well so he won't be playing," Walters said.
Brisbane teenager David Fifita is tipped to be elevated to the starting side in his third Origin, with Lowe moving onto the bench and Napa named 18th man.
Although announcing late on Tuesday that Lowe would make his debut, Walters wouldn't confirm the exact makeup of Queensland's 17.
Napa's Origin cards appeared marked when he was dropped after being hooked 23 minutes into Queensland's horror 38-6 game two loss in Perth and didn't return to the field.
Gillett is a significant loss for the Maroons and Queensland are considered massive underdogs to claim the series.
