Australian Coach and former Queensland Maroons mentor Mal Meninga says he would leave Billy Slater out of the Queensland team for Origin I.

Despite his blistering return to form at Melbourne, Meninga says combinations are more important to the makeup of the Maroons backline.

“I’m not quite sure if it’s a surprise, but I’ve just gone with combinations,” Meninga said on Fox Sports’ Queenslanders Only.

“Obviously from the Kangaroo game as well just recently against the Kiwis (and) talking about combinations from last year.

“Billy wasn’t there, so I’ve still got Justin O’Neill in there. I thought he did a terrific job for the Maroons last year on the right side.”

Many expect Kevin Walters to shift Darius Boyd from to the wing to make way for veteran fullback.