The Canberra Raiders legend loved the standard of play in the State of Origin opener two weeks ago and was expecting an even better contest when the series resumes at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday.

Out of Origin will come a bulk of Meninga's squad for the World Cup in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea at the end of the year.

Canberra Stadium will host three games, including the Kangaroos up against France.

Game one had Meninga excited, with many proclaiming the first 40 minutes to be one of the best halves of Origin ever played.

With Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater returning to the Queensland line-up, game two was promising to be even better.

"From what I've seen in game one, I've got a pretty good Australian side coming up. I anticipate this game's going to be even closer and harder. I'm sitting in the good seat," Meninga told Fairfax Media.

Maroons coach Kevin Walters named Canberra Raiders second-rower Josh Papalii on the bench on Friday, with Slater returning to wear the No.1 jersey as expected - pushing Darius Boyd into the centres.

Meninga said Papalii's role was similar to the one he picked him for for the Four Nations and the Anzac Test earlier this year.

While Papalii has been outstanding on the edge for the Green Machine, with second-rower's Boyd Cordner and Matt Gillett at his disposal, Meninga said moving Papalii to the middle was the perfect use of the powerhouse.

It's a role he's filled for the Maroons in the past and he was one of Queensland's best players in last year's Origin series.

"Based on what he did last year off the bench playing in the middle, only required for 50-odd minutes in a game, he'll do a terrific job in the middle," Meninga said.

"He was one of Queensland's better players, playing in the middle, last year.

"I was going to use him in that role in the Aussie side. I had Boyd Cordner and Matt Gillett on the edges so he was always going to be on my bench - if he's playing well of course and he's not injured."

Queensland played down concerns for Papalii after he left the Maroons' first official training session early with a knee complaint on Friday.

Papalii only underwent light drills before icing his knee and leaving Queensland's first full session at their Gold Coast camp.

Maroons lock Josh McGuire said it was just precautionary for Papalii, who will play a big role as an impact player after Walters finally confirmed his 17.

"He's a big body and very important to our team - there's no point trying to push people through at this time of year," McGuire said of Papalii's knee niggle.

"You will probably see a few more early marks at training in the lead-up [to game two]."

McGuire admitted every member of Queensland's pack was on their toes after veterans Nate Myles, Jacob Lillyman, Aidan Guerra and Sam Thaiday were dumped after the record 28-4, game-one loss.

The Queensland forward pack were soundly beaten by their NSW counterparts in the opener, with Blues prop Andrew Fifita almost unstoppable.

Walters brought fresh blood into the pack, with Jarrod Wallace, Coen Hess and Tim Glasby all set to make their debut.

"I wouldn't say it is a cleanout, but we are judged on results at this level and success speaks louder than anything else," McGuire said.

"Everyone is on notice. The best players in the world are on notice at this level." with AAP

Queensland squad: 1. Billy Slater, 2. Valentine Holmes, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Darius Boyd, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Johnathan Thurston, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Dylan Napa, 9. Cameron Smith (capt), 10. Jarrod Wallace, 11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Josh McGuire. Interchange: 14. Michael Morgan, 15. Josh Papalii, 16. Coen Hess, 17. Tim Glasby. 18th man: Cameron Munster.

NSW squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Blake Ferguson, 3. Josh Dugan, 4. Jarryd Hayne, 5. Brett Morris, 6. James Maloney, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Nathan Peats, 10. Andrew Fifita, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Boyd Cordner (c), 13. Tyson Frizell. Interchange: 14. David Klemmer, 15. Wade Graham, 16. Jake Trbojevic, 17. Jack Bird. 18th man: Matt Moylan. 19th man: Jordan McLean. 20th man: Tom Trbojevic.