Struggling North Queensland have received a massive boost with Matt Scott and Jordan McLean confirmed to return against Newcastle as they strive to avoid the club's first wooden spoon in 18 years.
After naming them on an extended bench earlier in the week, coach Paul Green said on Thursday the international bookends would make much-needed comebacks against the Knights at 1300Smiles Stadium on Friday.
With McLean missing since round four with a foot injury, the Cowboys have spluttered through their 2018 campaign and are welded to the bottom of the table with Canterbury and Parramatta on just four wins.
It's been a frustrating first year in Townsville for the Australian Test front-rower but he can make a real difference in their run home.
So too Scott, who's been missing since early last month because of a neck injury.
The Cowboys haven't finished last since 2000 and a wooden spoon in what is club great Johnathan Thurston's final year would be a black eye for them.
However Green is bullish about his star front-rowers making an immediate impact.
"They're international players, you can't understate that when you don't have your best players playing, it makes it really difficult," Green said.
Green said McLean was hungry after managing just a handful of games in 2018.
"It's been frustrating, at a new club, he's been keen to make a difference," he said.
"He's sat back and it's been out of his control. Credit to him, he's worked hard to get back on the field.
"The way the season's panned out, he's had plenty of excuses to put the cue in the rack. He was very determined to get back on the paddock."
Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga has been named in the side's final 19 despite struggling with an ankle problem.
Ponga has recovered from a hamstring injury which kept him out of State of Origin III but is battling after rolling his ankle at training earlier in the week.
Should he play, it will be his first game against the Cowboys since slipping through their fingers and signing with the Knights.
Five-eighth Connor Watson has been ruled out with an ankle injury with Jack Cogger taking his spot.
STATS THAT MATTER
* North Queensland will be trying to avoid a sixth consecutive loss for the first time since 2010.
* They've won the past three and eight of their 11 most recent matches against Newcastle.
* The Knights have the best completion rate in the competition at 79 per cent while the Cowboys have the worst at 73.2 per cent.
Source: Fox Sports Stats
