Injury-ravaged North Queensland have been handed a much-needed boost with Te Maire Martin, Lachlan Coote and Michael Morgan all set to play in Saturday night's must-win NRL clash against Cronulla.
Martin and Coote got through the team's final training session unscathed and will line up at 1300SMILES Stadium unless their knee issues flare up in the morning.
But coach Paul Green will take no risks with Coote if the fullback is not ready with teenage rookie and possible debutant Enari Tuala on standby.
Morgan has also been given the green light after passing all the necessary concussion tests, having taken a hit to his head in last week's defeat to Penrith.
The Cowboys are already without Gavin Cooper (calf), Antonio Winterstein (hamstring), Justin O'Neill (elbow) and Shaun Fensom (knee) for the short term, while Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Pat Kaufusi and Ben Spina are all out for the season.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Scott Bolton, meanwhile, will be three kilograms below his usual playing weight as he celebrates his 200th NRL match after a recent battle with illness.
That will be less than ideal against Cronulla's bulging forward pack, who will be keen to assert themselves again and keep their side in the hunt for the top four.
"We've got to start putting in some good performances. We've been inconsistent," Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said.
"We've just got to find a way.
"I've got an experienced footy team there so if anyone's going to do it, it's those older players that know what's required of them so we can turn it around real quickly."
Defeat to the reigning premiers would leave the Cowboys at risk of losing their top eight position, while victory would go a long way towards securing a finals spot.
"It's big. It's a home game for us, a couple of things to play for there with Bolts' 200th," Green said.
"If players are looking for a bit of motivation, it's not too hard to find."
The Sharks have their own 200-game milestone man this week in James Maloney.
STATS THAT MATTER
* In Townsville, the Cowboys have won the past two matches and four of the past five against the Sharks.
* Cronulla are definitely a second half team, scoring 102 points more than their opposition this season after the break compared to conceding 49 points more in the first half.
