Freddys Fearsome Feet

It's been the most feared sidestep in rugby league for 15 years.

That's how Queensland Origin utility Chris Flannery feels about Brad Fittler's left-foot sidestep which has made mugs of his rivals for years.

It's what Queensland fear most in Wednesday night's do-or-die State of Origin when Fittler comes out of representative retirement to settle an old score with the Maroons.

Flannery gets a first hand look at Fittler's step several times a week at training.

But on Wednesday night, he admits he'll be as vulnerable to it as any player wearing a maroon jumper.

"I've got the inside knowledge, but I don't think there's anything you can really target," said Flannery of Fittler's notorious left-foot weapon.

"You can see the left foot coming, but it's pretty hard to stop."

The clash of old dog Fittler and Darren Lockyer, arguably the game's best player, sets up a wonderful aside to Origin II.

Fittler this week responded to an SOS from Blues coach Phil Gould, left short-handed after a string of injuries to Trent Barrett, Braith Anasta, and first game hero Shaun Timmins.

Melbourne's Scott Hill, man of the match in the City Origin game, was surprisingly ignored by Gould who made an unsuccessful overture to Fittler during last year's series.

Flannery said most of Fittler's Sydney Roosters teammates were caught completely off guard by his decision to play Origin again.

"After the first game he was saying how tough it was and he seemed glad to be watching it," said Flannery, back to a bench role with Lockyer returning from injury to face Fittler.

"He surprised the lot of us by pulling the boots on one more time."

There's definitely an irony in Fittler coming out retirement to help NSW possibly wrap up the series in front of Queensland's notoriously parochial fans.

In 2001, Queensland pulled champion halfback Allan Langer back from England to inspire the Maroons to a series deciding victory at ANZ Stadium in what was to have been Fittler's last Origin game.

Now, the boot is on the other foot and Fittler has the opportunity to play out his own fairytale.

Despite three years away from Origin, Flannery said Fittler was still a class act.

"He's just a bit older but he is still as dangerous as ever."

Asked if he'd put a big hit on his Rooster's skipper if he had the chance, Flannery smiled and said: "I'll be looking for the old boy".