The past, present and future of Queensland's front row will be on show in Townsville when Matt Scott collides with Jai Arrow on Friday night.
North Queensland veteran Scott is pushing for an Origin return at 33 while Gold Coast's Arrow is ticking all of Kevin Walters' boxes after an eye-catching debut series last year.
The Titans will also welcome back Origin incumbent Jarrod Wallace from suspension, while 22-year-old Cowboy Coen Hess is another young gun pushing his case for retention.
"I've got massive wraps on him; he's certainly going to play a lot of games in the maroon jumper," Scott said of 23-year-old Arrow, who he says reminds him of teammate Josh McGuire.
"He's got (the) fitness to produce back to back efforts (and) to produce over a game.
"He certainly plays above his weight ... he's definitely one of their most consistent players, but they get Jarrod Wallace back and (former Test prop) Shannon Boyd, so they're certainly no slouches in the forwards' department."
Arrow admitted Scott was an idol of his growing up and was relishing the contest.
"It's always good to come up against old veterans like that, especially with the quality of side they have," he said.
Both sides are 2-5 and history suggests that they will be out of the NRL premiership race if they lose, given no team has lifted the trophy after a 2-6 season start.
The Cowboys have won the last seven contests between the sides, with the now-retired Johnathan Thurston inspiring victory in his farewell game when the sides last met.
