Sydney Roosters star James Tedesco will be rested from Saturday's NRL clash with North Queensland just three days after lifting the State of Origin shield as NSW skipper.
The fifth-placed Roosters have taken a cautious approach with their leader, who will be crucial for a run into the finals, especially given the club's horrendous injury toll.
Billy Smith has been shifted into the centres with Joey Manu switching to fullback in place of Tedesco against the Cowboys in Townsville.
It follows confirmation Joseph Suaalii's season is over with a foot injury, adding another name to the growing list of long-term injuries at the club including Boyd Cordner, Luke Keary, Brett Morris and Jake Friend.
That is just one more challenge facing the club after the relocation of the NRL competition to Queensland this week and the delay in getting families into the state.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson will aim to channel all the off-field change and uncertainty, describing it as another hurdle for the squad to clear to be successful.
"It's energy, and it can be worked in both ways," he said.
"Dealing with that is also how you deal with other uncomfortable moments on the field, during a season.
"If you want to be a good sporting team, you have to be able to handle it, no matter what the challenge is, it comes in all different forms.
"You need to understand it, control it and channel it in the right way."
The Roosters arrived on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday and set about trying to create a winning environment.
"That's the challenge, you change the environment, you change the routines that you're in and then it's about creating something that's a real positive for your team," Robinson said.
"We saw it last year in the NRL and the AFL that we have to do this, so adapt well, create the habits that you need to create to perform well.
"We're looking into how to create some fun here.
"We're walking around with security guards on the outside of us and naturally trying to make sure we're doing the right thing and we're all walking on eggshells with masks on.
"You sort of feel that way at the start, but it's about how do we create home."
