Veteran forward Craig Fitzgibbon has been called into the NSW starting side for Wednesday night's State of Origin clash with Queensland at ANZ Stadium with debutant prop Ben Cross pushed back onto the interchange bench.

Fitzgibbon was considered a bolter selection in the NSW side having missed the past two series losses as selectors favoured younger players.

A strong crowd is starting to build at ANZ Stadium with weather forecasters predicting surrounding showers not to affect the match.

There has been drama already at the stadium with a young child from the Mini-mods clash played at halftime of the curtain raiser stretchered off in a neck brace and rushed to hospital for precautionary scans.

Kick off for tonight's main game is at 8.10pm.

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