Jack Wighton at the centre of NSW Blues' potent left edge

The Canberra Raiders five-eighth's using State of Origin as an opportunity to pick the brains of Sydney Roosters No.6 Luke Keary to enhance his own game when he returns to the Green Machine next year.

Wighton will slot in at left centre for NSW - in between Keary and winger Josh Addo-Carr.

Addo-Carr finished the 2020 NRL season with 16 tries to lead the Melbourne Storm, while Wighton scored 13 - the second most for a Raider behind Blues squad member Nick Cotric.

Keary scored 10 himself, while also setting up another 18. It makes for a formidable combination.

"Yeah definitely. We've got some good strike power and a lot of smarts from Kezza," Wighton said.

"We've just got to do everything right and we'll go good.

"[Keary's] a really intelligent player and his comms are really good so it helps me a lot.

"We've been doing a lot of work on getting our 'D' together and all that kind of stuff. It's coming along good."

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While Keary's yet to make his Origin debut, it's only problems with concussion that's kept him out of the Blues' line-up.

He's been a large part of the Roosters' success with winning back-to-back premierships in 2018-19 and played two Tests for Australia two years ago.

His 18 try assists show why he's considered one of the premier playmakers in the game.

It's why Wighton's taking notes to see what he can add to his own game - which is clearly pretty good already given he's added this year's Dally M Medal to last year's Clive Churchill.

"Yeah definitely, he's won three premierships. He's a very knowledgeable player and I love the craft of him," Wighton said.

"He's definitely someone I can take little tips and watch, and learn a little bit from."

Wighton's direct opposite opponent will be former Raider Brenko Lee - depending on a last-minute injury scare.

Lee comes in for his Origin debut after being part of the Storm's premiership last weekend.

The 25-year-old almost gave the game away this time last year, but was convinced to give it one last go.

Now he's on the verge of playing in one of the fiercest contests on the planet.

Lee played 15 games across three seasons for the Raiders, before stints at Canterbury and the Gold Coast led him to Melbourne.

It's a similar rise to what Wighton experienced last year, with their head-to-head battle a sign of how far they've come since they were teammates.

"We'll both be out there trying to do a job," Wighton said.

"It's good to see he's going the way he is and it'll be good to come up against him."

Wighton was at the club when Raiders co-captain Jarrod Croker found out he needed shoulder surgery, but he felt it could turn out to be a positive.

"Yeah far out ... a little bit shattered for him, but at the same time he's at that stage where it would be good for him to give the rest of his body a rest," he said.

"The season's done, he got through it, he's a tough bugger and we love him at the club.

"It's come at a good time. I don't think he'll miss too many games and he'll be coming back fresh."

STATE OF ORIGIN

Wednesday: Queensland Maroons v NSW Blues at Adelaide Oval, 8.10pm.