Hannant holding out for Origin miracle

Ben Hannant

AAP

BEN Hannant isn't due back on the paddock for another three weeks, but the Queensland prop refuses to give up on a miracle return for State of Origin III on Wednesday week.

Hannant has been sidelined since suffering a grade two medial ligament tear in Queensland's series-clinching win over the Blues in Sydney, and was considered a certain absentee from the series finale at Suncorp Stadium.

But the in-form Bulldog is adamant he is still in the running with the Maroons to name their side for game three on Tuesday.

"I'm quietly confident at the moment, they said 4-6 (weeks) but I'm doing all the rehab seven days a week," Hannant said on the Nine Network on Sunday.

"It'll be left up to the Queensland physio on the day. I'd love to be back and I'm doing everything I can to be back.

"I'm hoping three weeks, that's game three, I give myself every opportunity to be there."

The Maroons will definitely be down one prop with Petero Civoniceva out with a toe injury, Canberra's David Shillington doing his prospects no harm with a powerful game against Gold Coast on Sunday.

"It's probably the right time, they've won the series so it's probably the right time to do so," Raiders coach David Furner said of blooding Shillington.

"I think Dave has been pretty good since he's come back from injury.

"He was very good at the start of the season and now that we've spoken to him about ... if anyone got injured he's probably the next in line.

"He's big, he suits that style of play."

The Queensland backline will also get a minor makeover with Israel Folau's fractured ankle offset by the return of Justin Hodges from injury.