Former New South Wales Origin star Michael Ennis (pictured) believes Queensland could do worse than hand an Origin debut to Eels half Corey Norman.

With Johnathon Thurston racing the clock to recover from a rotator cuff injury and be fit in time for Game One on May 31, all eyes are on Queensland coach Kevin Walters and his list of potential replacements.

Ennis, who retired after Cronullas 2016 NRL premiership, says Normans particular skill set would slot in easily to the Maroons set up and provide the least disruption to the side that faces the prospect of being without Thurston for the first time since he made his Origin debut in 2005.