Reigning Wally Lewis medallist Tom Dearden is tracking to be available for the third State of Origin match as North Queensland eye his return after their round-15 bye.
Saturday's clash with the Dolphins is set to be the last Cowboys game Queensland star Dearden misses following last month's ankle surgery.
Dearden had initially expected to spend up to eight weeks on the sidelines, which would have meant not playing again before teams were picked for Origin III.
But the 25-year-old has resumed running and is expected to be back after six weeks out, meaning he'll have two club games to reaffirm his credentials for a Maroons call-up.
Cowboys teammate and 11-time Maroons second-rower Jeremiah Nanai is also set to return from a shoulder issue in round 16 to push his own case.
