Despite overseeing a decade of dominance, Cameron Smith says he would rate a State of Origin series win this year by an injury-depleted Queensland as the most satisfying of his glittering career.
The Maroons skipper on Monday played down concerns for Billy Slater after the veteran fullback rolled his ankle at training days before potentially his final Origin match - Wednesday night's series decider in Brisbane.
Even if Slater plays, Queensland must still try to extend their dynasty without a string of Maroons greats - prop Matt Scott (knee), five-eighth Johnathan Thurston (shoulder), X-factor Greg Inglis (knee) and speedster Darius Boyd (thumb).
The star quartet have played a total of 117 Origin games.
And that does not include 19-Origin lock Corey Parker who retired at the end of 2016.
Smith has been a Maroons mainstay for all 10 series wins by Queensland since they launched their dominant era in 2006, missing just one game since his 2003 Origin debut.
However, this year has been the most tumultuous since Smith's reign began in 2012 after the injury hit Maroons were forced to blood eight debutants and use 26 players - the most by Queensland in an Origin series.
After amassing a record 41 Origins - including 17 as skipper - Smith said title No.11 would be the most enjoyable.
"It'd be the most satisfying, I reckon, no doubt about that given the injuries we've had and the personnel that are unavailable," Smith said.
"But we're not at getting ahead of ourselves.
"Our focus is making sure we deliver an 80 minute performance because we haven't done that thus far this series - I think we owe that to everyone in Queensland."
Smith said Slater was not required to attend Tuesday's captain's run and would be given until game day to prove his fitness for what may be his final match in Maroon.
Off-contract Slater is yet to decide whether he will play on in 2018 ahead of his 29th Origin.
Smith believed Slater would play Origin III, avoiding a dramatic backline reshuffle that would pitch Cameron Munster into fullback and move fellow debutant Ben Hunt to five-eighth.
Brisbane hooker Andrew McCullough would be the new bench utility.
"Given the way Bill has pulled up this morning it all looks extremely positive for him," Smith said.
Whether or not Slater plays, Origin III will still mark the end of an era for Queensland.
Thurston will receive a pre-match tribute after his 37-match Origin career was halted by a season-ending shoulder injury suffered during Queensland's game two win in Sydney.
Besides Slater, a question mark also hovers over halfback Cooper Cronk after he announced he would leave NRL club Melbourne to be with his fiancee in Sydney in 2018.
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