Premiership-winning winger Kyle Feldt is expected to provide some much-needed scoring punch when he makes his comeback for the Cowboys on Sunday against the Rabbitohs.
Feldt hasn't played since suffering a groin injury in the pre-season and the Cowboys have missed his finishing talents out wide.
North Queensland coach Paul Green named Feldt to start on the right wing and is happy to have him back on board.
“He's been working hard off the field," Green said.
"I don't know whether or not he'll be kicking off. Any extended layoff is always tough for players but he’s coped really well."
The Norths Thuringowa Devils junior will be a welcome inclusion for a team averaging just 16.3 points per game.
Green identified areas where he believes Feldt will have a positive impact.
Rabbitohs v Cowboys - Magic Round
“He’s a bigger body coming out of the backfield and often gets our sets going as well," he said.
"The experience, he's played and won some big games."
John Asiata will again play at five-eighth after a standout audition on Friday night.
Asiata played the full 80 minutes and scored a try in the 28-14 defeat of the Titans.
Green said Asiata "did exactly what was asked of him”.
“He’s [Asiata] got to have the right mindset going into the game which he did well on the weekend," he said.
Cowboys conjure long range try
"He's played most of his footy, particularly in first grade, in the forwards, so it is a different mindset coming into the game to play in the halves.
"In saying that he spent most of his junior career as a half so it's not foreign to him. He’s just got to get that balance right and he did that well last week."
Asiata has always had aspirations of playing in the halves, although it didn’t go to plan early on.
“As a kid I grew up wanting to play in the halves. I looked up to Johnno [Thurston]," the 26-year-old said.
"As the years went on, I got a little bit heavier so that went out the window, but the skill set was always there.
“I'll make sure I put my best foot forward and prep myself to be ready to play there again. As long as I do my job, I'll be happy."
Asiata’s name has been thrown around for a possible utility role with the Blues in Origin.
Green adamant it’s something he could do.
“I think in a tight contest he could break a game open," he said.
"He's got that skill and that ability to find a pass or carry the ball.”
Meanwhile Kevin Walters has spoken about the possibility of Jake Granville playing hooker for the Maroons.
Green was impressed with Granville's performance on the weekend.
“Last week was probably the best game we've seen for a while," Green said.
Granville scores the first of the night
"Not only did he [Granville] score a try, set up a try for Jase [Taumololo] but it was him chasing back on those two no-tries as well. That's a good step in the right direction for Jake and he’ll get a lot of confidence out of that.”
Likewise for Justin O’Neill, who’ll play centre after being relegated to the Intrust Super Cup in previous weeks and playing out of position recently.
“He's been playing full of confidence since he's come back into the team which is good to see and he's the most experienced guy we've got in the centres," Green said.
"He's been in the best form for a couple of years.”
After succumbing to a calf injury on Friday night, Josh McGuire will not line up this week, with Coen Hess given the nod to start at lock.
“It's not foreign to him starting in that back row," Green said.
"I expect him to do a good job there."
