Canberra travel to Townsville on the verge of the top four having defied a heavy injury toll to score consecutive wins over the Roosters and Rabbitohs.
North Queensland continued their improvement with a gritty loss to Manly last week and, though finals footy appears out of the picture, interim coach Josh Hannay is determined to restore more pride.
The Cowboys beat the Raiders in their most recent meeting last year but Ricky Stuart's men were victors in the preceding three clashes.
Match: Cowboys v Raiders
Round 12 -
home Team
Cowboys
13th Position
away Team
Raiders
5th Position
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
The Rundown
Team news
Cowboys: Centre Connelly Lemuelu returns with Mitch Dunn going to the bench. Jordan McLean is back at prop with Francis Molo returning to the interchange. Reuben Cotter and Ben Hampton drop out. Skilful prop John Asiata is included on the reserves and could make his return from a knee injury.
Josh McGuire was banned at the judiciary on Tuesday night while rookie five-eighth Daejarn Asi (knee) was ruled out on Wednesday with Molo and Mitchell Dunn respectively replacing them in the starting side. The team has been granted an exemption to bring Emry Pere into the squad on the reserves. The Cowboys have won only two from six at QCB Stadium.
Esan Marsters and Jake Granville were trimmed from the reserves an hour before kick-off after Pere was omitted on Friday.
Raiders: Jordan Rapana replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (finger) at fullback. Nick Cotric shifts to the wing. John Bateman makes his long-awaited return from shoulder surgery in the second row with Hudson Young moving to lock and Kai O'Donnell to the reserves.
Sam Williams and Harley Smith-Shields were cut from the reserves on game day after Matt Frawley and O'Donnell were omitted 24 hours before kick-off.
Match: Cowboys v Raiders
Round 12 -
home Team
Cowboys
away Team
Raiders
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowFullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan Rapana
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle FeldtWinger for Raiders is number 2 Semi Valemei
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Justin O'NeillCentre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
-
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Connelly LemueluCentre for Raiders is number 4 Curtis Scott
-
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray TaulagiWinger for Raiders is number 5 Nick Cotric
-
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 19 Ben HamptonFive-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
-
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Jake CliffordHalfback for Raiders is number 7 George Williams
Forwards
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 10 Jordan McLeanProp for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
-
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Raiders is number 9 Siliva Havili
-
Prop for Cowboys is number 17 Francis MoloProp for Raiders is number 10 Dunamis Lui
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 11 Shane Wright2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 John Bateman
-
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Coen Hess2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
-
Lock for Cowboys is number 13 Jason TaumaloloLock for Raiders is number 13 Hudson Young
Interchange
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 14 Mitchell DunnInterchange for Raiders is number 14 Tom Starling
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Tom GilbertInterchange for Raiders is number 15 Joseph Tapine
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 16 Gavin CooperInterchange for Raiders is number 16 Ryan Sutton
-
Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 John AsiataInterchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Harawira-Naera
Match Officials
- Referee: Ben Cummins
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Jared Maxwell
Last updated:
Key match-up
Reece Robson v Tom Starling. The Cowboys hooker has been a bright spot in an underwhelming season, establishing himself as a reliable customer with a dangerous running game. Meanwhile, Starling has done a great job since coming into the team for the injured Josh Hodgson, providing spark and defensive resilience.
Stat Attack
He's undoubtedly one of the game's brightest stars, but Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton's unflinching willingness to back himself has resulted in the most errors this season - 20. Talented Cowboys playmaker Scott Drinkwater, who is out with a knee injury, isn't far behind with 18.
