Injury crisis? Check.

Must-win game in Sydney? Check.

Written off by bookies? Check.

Everything seems to be falling into place for Queensland ahead of State of Origin game two.

Even the most dyed in the wool Maroons fan would have been disturbed by the scene that unfolded at Queensland’s official Origin II team media session on the Gold Coast.

Corey Parker was out with a fractured eye socket.

Billy Slater would have shrugged when asked about his availability if his right shoulder wasn’t so damaged.

Daly Cherry-Evans was “hopeful” of playing despite boasting a knee brace that appeared to come off the Forrest Gump set.

And Greg Inglis (ankle) didn’t even show up.

Needing to overcome a rejuvenated NSW Blues team – and history – at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night to keep their quest for nine straight series wins alive in Sydney, Queensland’s long injury list ensured the mighty Maroons were suddenly considered Origin underdogs.

But NSW Blues veterans fear Queensland wouldn’t have it any other way.

From the outside looking in, Queensland are on the ropes.

To those who know better – and have the mental scars to prove it – they have simply set the stage for another against-the-odds Maroons knockout win.

“You take what Queensland say about injuries with a grain of salt over the years,” said ex-NSW fullback Tim Brasher, who played 21 Origins from 1992-2000.

“You know yourself when you are coming into Origin camp, as the days go by the injury gets better pretty quick.”

Then there’s the history stacked against them.

As dominant as they have been in the past eight years, Queensland have only been able to keep a series alive with a game two win in Sydney once in six attempts.

And that was way back in 1987 at a muddy SCG.

An 83,500-capacity ANZ Stadium packed with screaming, blue-wigged fanatics is a much more difficult proposition for visitors in Maroon.

Queensland had started out looking complacent when the series began.

Sniggers could almost be heard from a laidback Maroons camp when news of NSW coach Laurie Daley’s game one approach filtered in.

Daley hired a leading sport scientist and a team of interns to oversee daily testing of each NSW player in camp – even during their sleep.

And Queensland?

They also did a lot of sleeping but mostly after blowing off some training sessions, so confident were they ahead of Origin I.

Still, Blues great Steve “Blocker” Roach is wary before game two – and so is Blues mentor and former skipper Daley, who could not hide his pride after a “busted” NSW hung on to claim game one 12-8.

Not only did they triumph at Queensland’s spiritual home, Suncorp Stadium, it was in Origin game No.100.

And after Queensland had completed an emotional pre-game tribute to the late, great Arthur Beetson.

But years of watching Queensland embrace the underdog tag before claiming another win have ensured Daley did not take champagne to Origin II camp, only a big stick.

“Beneath the exterior of this nice, happy-go-lucky bloke is a fierce competitor,” said Roach, who played 17 Origins from 1984-91, of Daley.

“He hit a few blokes in the head with a sledgehammer.

“He said ‘you haven’t done anything yet, we won the first game and congratulations but win game two and we win the series’.

The Maroons certainly don’t lack motivation ahead of game two but they have more.

Queensland were fuming over NSW pivot Josh Reynolds escaped suspension.

Maroons veteran Brent Tate claimed he had “never been so frightened” when upended by Reynolds in Origin I.

Ex-NSW rake Ben Elias responded by describing the Queensland Rugby League as “the greatest whingers in Australian sport.”

Roach reckoned Tate should “harden up”.

Still Meninga would not bite ahead of game two – no doubt sounding more alarm bells for long-suffering NSW veterans.

“Over the years we have had some great Queensland teams and for some reason we have been underdogs – that’s NSW (saying that), not us,” said Meninga, with a glint in his eye.

“We always believe we are a chance of being successful in an Origin game.”