NEWCASTLE winger Edrick Lee is in contention to make his State of Origin debut for Queensland at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night if rugged Kurt Capewell fails to prove his fitness.
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Capewell starred in Queensland's series-opening boilover against NSW last week but limped off in the dying minutes with a groin problem he carried into the game.
The makeshift centre from Penrith was on light duties when the Maroons trained at CBUS Super Stadium on Sunday, and Tuesday's captain's run will be his last chance to convince coach Wayne Bennett he can get through a game.
With Capewell watching from the sidelines, Gold Coast's Phillip Sami spent most of Sunday's session at left centre, with Lee outside him.
Sami, who like Capewell debuted for Queensland last week, has limited experience as a centre, playing the vast majority of his 55 games for the Titans on the wing.
Bennett's other options are Melbourne centre Brenko Lee, a last-minute withdrawal from game one because of a calf strain, or Newcastle's Hymel Hunt, who is equally at home as centre or wing.
Champion Queensland five-eighth Cameron Munster was confident Edrick Lee would handle the occasion if called upon.
"Edrick's a really good player. He's obviously shown at Knights that he can finish tries and is good in the air," Munster said after training on Sunday.
Edrick has obviously shown at Knights that he can finish tries and is good in the air.
- CAMERON MUNSTER
"He's strong in the backfield so he'd be really good for us. Obviously we've seen on Wednesday night with how Phillip Sami played, he's very quick and he's good with his feet so he will be very handy for us if we need to use him in the centres as well."
Lee, 28, has played 116 NRL games for Canberra, Cronulla and the Knights, scoring 59 tries. If chosen, he will become the 10th Knight to play for the Maroons.
Munster said there was still a chance Capewell would be cleared.
"He obviously played well on Wednesday night and we just need to make sure he's right for Wednesday," Munster said.
"If that that means he doesn't train all week until captain's run, that's what he'll have to do."
The Maroons will have a day off on Monday before Tuesday's final ball-work session.