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Queensland's soaring start to the State of Origin series could have turned out very differently after captain and chief playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans survived a late injury scare that sent a shudder through the Maroons camp just 24 hours from kick-off.

Leader: Cherry-Evans was instrumental in his first game as captain of the Maroons. Credit:AAP

Cherry-Evans was already racing the clock after ankle surgery that would normally demand nine weeks on the sideline. Instead, he made it back in just five weeks after intensive rehab with his club side Manly and then under the watchful eye of the Maroons' medical staff.

He was supremely confident from the moment he set foot in camp but there were still a few nerves behind the scenes. He trained all week and looked right on target, especially when he sailed through an opposed session against Ipswich on Sunday afternoon.

But that all threatened to be derailed when he tweaked the leg during the Captain's Run at Suncorp Stadium on Tuesday.