With Origin One set to kick off tonight, the Maroons' coaching staff have left no stone unturned in their effort to take a series lead.

Walters has taken the unprecedented step of banning talk of their Origin opponents, opting instead to purely focus on his side.

He's also spent big in hiring a mentor to the stars to find every little advantage.

The bookies may have the Blues as slight betting favourites but below is why the Maroons will get the chocolates tonight and head to Perth looking to secure the Shield.

Suncorp Advantage:

Home ground advantage probably isn't as important as it once was, but don't underestimate the Suncorp crowd.

Last year the Blues had the series wrapped up, carrying zero pressure into their Suncorp visit yet were beaten.

The Maroons hold a dominant record at home and I'd go so far as to say Suncorp provides a greater advantage than ANZ Stadium does.

It's more intimate, definitely louder, and it's almost impossible to avoid a QLD fan onslaught in the way to the ground.

Caxton Street is famous for its hostile welcome every year.

Reports indicate that tonight's game might not be a sell-out but make no mistake, the overwhelming majority of fans tonight will be vying for Blues blood.

That Queenslander chant has an effect that those south of the Tweed simply cannot understand.

Lethal Left Side:

This is THE key to a Queensland win tonight and is the reason Blues fans are nervous.

Ponga will likely play on both sides of the field but will surely focus on the left side.

That combination of Ponga, Munster and Morgan is lethal.

The Blues right-hand side in defence is made up of a kid on debut and a left centre shifted to the right.

That is alarm bells for NSW despite Morris being a quality defensive centre.

That Ponga, Munster, Morgan combination would worry any defensive line in the game.

I fully expect the raids to come thick and fast with plenty thrown at either Walker or Cleary inside the aforementioned players.

Ponga is a short priced favourite to win man of the match honours and it's easy to see why.

Cotric can expect plenty of aerial attention with Corey Oates his opposite.

There's always a chance that Walters or Fittler could swap a player late on before kick off but surely QLD stack that left side and let them free.

Can't imagine that Blues' right edge got too much sleep last night.

Underdog Attack:

This may sound a little strange but no team can turn being the underdog into an art form quite like those in Maroon.

This is a side who took pride in entering games as betting outsiders despite having a spine of Slater, Thurston, Cronk and Smith.

There is, relatively, no pressure on the Maroons in 2019.

Holmes has left the code, Inglis and Slater have retired. Smith was unable to answer an SOS.

They've been 'forced' to play a 7 at 9. They've been 'forced' to debut two young forwards from the bench.

These are all narratives that go largely unnoticed but feul those donning the four Xs.

Standard NRL players in average form seem to transform into future immortals for 80 minutes once that Maroon fabric hits their skin.

It doesn't matter what form Dane Gagai is in heading into Origin, he becomes the greatest winger in the game.

Queensland is always dangerous but telling them they can't do something usually almost guarantees they will do it.

Beware the underdog Maroons.