Darius Boyd is expected to be a significant beneficiary of revitalised Queensland centre Greg Inglis during State of Origin II in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
Off the field, Boyd said he'd already helped more than the South Sydney star knew.
When Boyd was battling depression last year, missing the last two months of the NRL season as he sort treatment, Inglis visited him.
He was one of only a few players to do so.
"GI visited me in the clinic which was a bit of a shock - it really meant a lot to me," Boyd said on Sunday.
"It just shows the guy he is. He is a good friend."
Boyd reckons his mate will be a big help on the field come Wednesday night.
The barnstorming Maroons centre was a shadow of himself in Origin I after spending three nights in hospital battling tonsillitis in the lead-up.
Winger Boyd hopes to resume his devastating combination with Inglis on NSW's right side in game two.
"GI is a class player and I don't think he played as bad as everyone thought," he said.
"We watched a lot of tape and he made over 20 tackles, had over 100m (but) he didn't score a try or set up any himself and people think he has a bad game."
"I think it was a pretty amazing game to be honest.
"He's having a good prep and I am sure that will put him in good stead."
Boyd and Inglis share the Origin try scoring record with 15 each in an indication of the damage they have caused to the Blues on that right edge.
Queensland coach Mal Meninga is expected to switch Inglis to the wing at times to ensure the Maroons great gets more ball.
But Boyd said Inglis would cause damage wherever he played.
"He demands that respect. You see it time and again, they (defenders) come in and worry about him and it leaves me open - I am very lucky to play outside of him," Boyd said.
Boyd himself is impressing after making a remarkable recovery from an Achilles injury a month earlier than expected.
"I think I had my best game (back) against Manly last week (for Brisbane)," he said.
"I am just going to get better and better with confidence."
Meanwhile, Maroons prop Matt Scott (knee) resumed Maroons training on Sunday.
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