Gold Coast Titans and NSW forward Greg Bird cleared to play State of Origin III

NSW backrower Greg Bird will miss the Titans' clash with the Dragons on Friday night but is considered no risk of missing the State of Origin decider.

NSW backrower Greg Bird will miss the Gold Coast Titans' clash with St George Illawarra on Friday night but is considered no risk of missing next month's State of Origin decider.

There were fears Bird faced a long term sidelines stint after being forced off early in the second half of the Titans' win over the Panthers yesterday with the recurrence of a pectoral injury.

NSW selectors were sweating on scan results today ahead of July 4's Origin series decider in Brisbane.

However, Titans medical staff said today Bird would be fit to again don the Blues jersey after scans revealed a strained pectoral muscle.

A Titans spokesman said Bird would "miss this week for the Titans but be fine for Origin".

Bird is seen as a key to a rare Blues series win after being named NSW players' player in game one and Origin II's man of the match.

Titans teammate Beau Champion (ankle) also received good news from scan results and remains a chance to run out against the Dragons.

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