The New South Wales Blues' prime objective on Wednesday night (tonight) is to send out retiring skipper Paul Gallen a winner and avoid their fifth losing Origin series whitewash.
But the statistics suggest they're facing an uphill battle, with the Blues having never won a game in Sydney after trailing the series 2-0.
During their recent period of dominance Queensland have not only won 10 of the past 11 State of Origin series, they have also won every Game Three since 2009.
Only Michael Jennings remains from the NSW 17 that won Game Three six year ago, with Gallen the only other Blues player to have won the final game of a series (in 2007).
In comparison, the Maroons still have Sam Thaiday, Matt Scott, Johnathan Thurston, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis and skipper Cameron Smith from their 2009 team, while Cooper Cronk was 18th man in that match.
"Being a dead rubber, your motivations play a part but we have a lot to play for, man," Jennings told NRL.com.
"Pride is one of them and not just that, it's Gal's last game. There's a lot to play for there."
Sydney hasn't been kind to NSW either when they have found themselves down 2-0 leading into the final game of an Origin series.
The Blues have avoided a whitewash in this situation three times from seven attempts – in 1984, 2007 and 2009 – yet each of those three games was played in Brisbane. Never in Sydney.
Whether New South Wales can buck 26 years of history on Wednesday night lies in the hands of a relatively new team.
Six players have made their Origin debuts for Laurie Daley's side this year with Origin debutants Wade Graham and James Tedesco to play in Game Three.
Only time will tell if the injection of fresh blood will turn the Blues' Game Three fortunes around.
Can the NSW Blues defy history and win Origin III? Credit: Grant Trouville. Copyright: NRL Photos.