* Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
* The form:
North Queensland (home-and-away season: fifth, 15 wins, 9 losses): Winners in seven of their past nine matches.
Newcastle (home-and-away season: eighth, 12 wins, 12 losses): Winners in five of their past nine matches.
* Head-to-head
Overall: Played: 45. Cowboys 23 wins, 22 losses.
In finals: Never played each other in a final.
Last time: Round 2, 2024: Cowboys 21 d Knights 20 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
* Key players:
Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys). The creative heart of the Cowboys, Drinkwater pulls the trigger on the dynamic attacking aspects of the side's play. While flamboyant and charismatic in his style, the 27-year-old fullback is also a selfless player who makes those around him look better. This is highlighted by his 36 line-break assists in the regular season, the best in the NRL and the equal most by a Cowboy alongside Johnathan Thurston in 2015. Also has 29 try assists. Drinkwater lives by the sword but rarely dies by it.
Kalyn Ponga (Knights). When Ponga fires at No.1 the Knights can beat anyone. Last week the maestro created the two tries to get his side into the finals with a 14-6 win over the Dolphins. It was still an uneven display by Ponga, and if the 26-year-old can have a nine-out-of-10 display against his former club, the Knights will be right in it.
Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys). While not the most devastating wrecking ball in the competition as he was in years gone by, the veteran forward is still the spiritual leader of the side. There has been plenty of quality and intent in his work this year. When the 31-year-old lock is on the field the opposition shudder and his teammates grow an extra leg.
Dane Gagai (Knights). Newcastle have lost their strike left centre Bradman Best to injury in a massive blow, but they still have Queensland legend Gagai in the other centre position to bring the passion, skill and big-game experience in a sudden-death contest. Gagai was at the Knights when they struggled at the bottom of the ladder, and returned because he believes in the uncompromising and proud backbone of a club forged on steel and grit.
* The stat: The Cowboys have had the wood on the Knights in North Queensland since 2015, winning eight consecutive games as the home side. Only Gagai is left from the Knights side that last won in Townsville.
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