The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys are 1-17 in their Round 23 NYC clash with the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium this afternoon.
Regular five-eighth Ty Carucci returns from a hamstring injury, with dynamic teenager Kalyn Ponga shifting from the No.6 to halfback.
Regular No.7 Cooper Bambling is still out of action with an ankle injury.
The second-placed Cowboys (31 points from 13 wins, six losses, one draw, two byes) are just one point ahead of the third-ranked Roosters (30 points from 13 wins, seven losses, two byes) with just four regular-season games remaining.
The victor from today's clash will occupy outright second spot with three games remaining.
Today's match kicks off at 1.45pm.
Cowboys: 1 Gideon Gela-Mosby, 2 Nathan Traill, 3 Bacho Salam, 4 Enari Tuala, 5 Marcus Jensen, 6 Ty Carucci, 7 Kalyn Ponga, 8 Darryn Schonig, 9 Brandon Smith (c), 10 Ross Bella, 11 Cody Maughan, 12 Hiale Roycroft, 13 Emry Pere. Interchange: 14 Duarne Dempsey, 15 Tahanui Tutavake, 16 Kaleb Fuimaono, 17 Nick Lui Toso. Coach: Aaron Payne.
