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The stage is almost set for one of the most anticipated events on the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys calendar, with some of the most important people involved at 1300SMILES Stadium today working on the finishing touches.

The Cowboys will host the club's annual Anzac tribute match against the Knights on Saturday, and personnel from the Army, Air Force and Navy were on-field rehearsing for the commemorative Tri-service and flag ceremony that will take the spotlight in the NRL pre-game show.

Corporal Ben Cobden of the Australian Army says the service and the NRL Anzac Round is something that he's really looking forward to.

"It's a great honour to be part of it, and it's a great way to honour the ANZACs," Corp Codben said.

The dedicated round, held annually in conjunction with Anzac Day, forms part of a game-wide initiative that will see every NRL club, including the Cowboys, pause to honour and reflect on the sacrifices that thousands of service men and women have made in protecting Australia, New Zealand and countries around the world.

Gates open at 1pm for the Army Thunder v Palm Island Skipjacks curtain-raiser, before NYC at 2.50pm and the NRL pre-game show from 4.25pm.