Newcastle-bound excitement machine Kalyn Ponga could find himself back in the NRL on Saturday to play the Warriors if North Queensland winger Antonio Winterstein fails to shrug off a calf injury.
Winterstein played just 40 minutes on the wing in last Sunday's defeat of South Sydney, and despite training yesterday was listed as doubtful by coach Paul Green.
Guarded when asked of Winterstein's potential replacement, Green said Ponga, Javid Bowen or Kyle Laybutt were all in the frame.
The coach said his experienced winger would be given "every chance" to play, due to the Cowboys' long list of injuries.
"He's an experienced guy and we need as much experience as possible," Green said.
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"He trained and did some strides in running, but I'd say he's doubtful at this stage."
Green listed the trio when asked who was likely to replace Winterstein.
When asked if one was more likely than the other the coach replied: "Probably, yeah."
Ponga will move to Newcastle next season, and despite starring at every opportunity for the Cowboys has not lined up for them since round nine.
Reserve grader Mason Lino will take injured Warrior Shaun Johnson's place in the side, in what will be the 23-year-old's first NRL match since September 2015.
"It's not a matter of targeting them," Green said of the young Warrior.
"But if we pressure their ball players, it's a new combination, and the more we pressure them the harder it is to find rhythm."
Green anticipates experienced five-eighth Kieran Foran to call the shots in Johnson's absence.
The Warriors, who sit 11th and need a win to keep pace with the eight, won't be relaxing despite the Cowboys' extensive casualty ward.
"They've still got a few pretty handy players in there. So it doesn't necessarily, for me, change them," coach Stephen Kearney told reporters this week.
"They're a team that knows how to win and get a job done, and largely they've got - apart from Johnathan not being in the side - the (same) backline."
