Queensland five-eighth Tom Dearden had barely two days' notice before his State of Origin debut, but it's different this time around.

When Cameron Munster went down in Magic Round, there was some talk about Brisbane star Ezra Mam, but Dearden was pretty much always going to step in.

And his naming in the Origin side has given him a chance to have a full 10-day preparation unlike when he was parachuted in before the 2022 decider.

"I didn't have much time to get nervous or think about the game much," he tells ABC Sport.

Dearden says the full lead-in has helped him bed in his combination with halfback partner Daly Cherry-Evans, as well as other members of the spine Ben Hunt and Reece Walsh.

Notably, he left number 14 Harry Grant out of that list, perhaps because the Storm captain has been away from the group with illness.

He is one of six North Queensland Cowboys missing this afternoon's game. Dearden will line up on Wednesday night alongside Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Jeremiah Nanai and Reuben Cotter, with Reece Robson starting at hooker for NSW.

"Him and Reubs might go at it in the middle," Dearden says.