The Warriors are primed to rise up the ladder in the second half of the season with as many as seven stars returning for their Round 14 clash with the Cowboys.

They started to get momentum with wins over Penrith and Dolphins before their bye last round and are set to welcome back an armada of key players for their trip to North Queensland.

Front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake will be back after he was dumped for disciplinary reasons while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (illness), Rocco Berry (hand), Tohu Harris (wrist), Wayde Egan (head knock), Shaun Johnson (pectoral) and Kurt Capewell (calf) will bring a wealth of experience into the team after recent layoffs.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten will be sweating out Wednesday night’s Origin opener with the highest club representation of six – Valentine Holmes, Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai, Reece Robson and Murray Taulagi.

Second-rower Heilum Luki is likely to be out after he was sin-binned for a dangerous throw in Sunday’s win over the Roosters. 

Teams with multiple players in Origin will be permitted to select extended squads this week.

Canterbury will be without Josh Addo-Carr for at least two months after scans on his hamstring injury confirmed significant damage.

The 15-time Blues winger, overlooked for next week’s Origin I, will  miss between eight and 10 weeks after going off during Friday’s win at Newcastle. Addo-Carr was substituted out of the Bulldogs’ 32-2 victory just after halftime, with a high-grade hamstring tear.

If Stephen Crichton avoids injury in Origin, his return at centre for the Easter Monday clash means Jacob Kiraz will revert to the wing to offset the loss of Addo-Carr.

Tigers forward Isaiah Papali’i will be out for two months with his ankle injury although Wests get Brent Naden and Justin Olam back from suspension when they kick off the round on Friday at Wollongong against St George Illawarra.

Veteran five-eighth Cody Walker will be back on Saturday when the Rabbitohs travel to the Gold Coast after a brief layoff with a calf complaint.

Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs is also due to return on Saturday when they host Cronulla after a rib injury kept him out of the last-start loss to the Titans.

Round 14 teams

All times AEST

St George Illawarra vs Wests at WIN Stadium: 8pm, Friday June 7 

Dragons: Shane Flanagan has Origin trio Zac Lomax, Ben Hunt and Jaydn Su’A on Origin duty potentially backing up less than 48 hours after game one.

Tigers: Isaiah Papali’i is out long term from the ankle injury he suffered in their eighth straight loss before the bye. Justin Olam and Brent Naden are available after serving one-game bans.

Gold Coast vs South Sydney at Cbus Super Stadium: 3pm, Saturday June 8 

Titans: Jojo Fifita (pectoral), Kieran Foran (hamstring) and Jayden Campbell (knee) are set to give the team a triple boost after the bye but Phil Sami (hamstring) and Tanah Boyd (wrist) are another week or two away.

Rabbitohs: Cody Walker will be right to play after sitting out their last-start win over Parramatta with a calf strain.

North Qld vs Warriors at QCB Stadium: 5.30pm, Saturday June 8 

Cowboys: Valentine Holmes, Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai, Reece Robson and Murray Taulagi are in action in Origin I. Second-rower Heilum Luki is likely to be charged for a dangerous throw in Sunday’s win over the Roosters.

Warriors: Andrew Webster is set to get back a battalion of regulars after two straight wins heading into the bye. Front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake will be back after he was dumped for disciplinary reasons while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (illness), Rocco Berry (hand), Tohu Harris (wrist), Wayde Egan (head knock), Shaun Johnson (pectoral) and Kurt Capewell (calf) will bring a wealth of experience into the team after recent layoffs.

Brisbane vs Cronulla at Suncorp Stadium: 7.30pm, Saturday June 8 

Broncos: Payne Haas, Patrick Carrigan, Selwyn Cobbo and Reece Walsh are on Origin duty on Wednesday night. Former NSW centre Kotoni Staggs (rib) will be back after missing the loss to the Titans prior to the bye.

Sharks: Braydon Trindall or Daniel Atkinson could be squeezed out if Nicho Hynes backs up from Origin I although Cronulla could be cautious with him due to his recent calf strain. Cameron McInnes is also away on Blues duty.

Melbourne vs Newcastle at AAMI Park: 2pm, Sunday June 9

Storm: Harry Grant and Xavier Coates will look to back up after playing for the Maroons while winger Will Warbrick (groin) and veteran Tepai Moeroa (back) are maybes.

Knights: Daniel Saifiti is our with a knee problem but his twin Jacob will be free to play after only copping a fine for his headbutt on Reed Mahoney in the 32-2 loss last Friday.

Penrith vs Manly at BlueBet Stadium: 4.05pm, Sunday June 9

Panthers: Mavrik Geyer, Soni Luke, Jesse McLean and Tyrone Peachey are again set to be on standby with five players in Origin calculations. Matt Eisenhuth (concussion) and Luke Garner (leg) are set to return. Dylan Edwards is unlikely to play after his thigh injury cost him a chance of an Origin debut.

Sea Eagles: Tolutau Koula (shoulder) and Lachlan Croker (neck) are doubtful starters for the visitors.

Canterbury vs Parramatta at Accor Stadium: 4pm, Monday June 10

Bulldogs: Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton are in the NSW squad with Drew Hutchison to make way for Burton. Crichton’s return will push Jacob Kiraz to a wing but Blake Wilson will hold his spot with Josh Addo-Carr out for two months with a torn hamstring.

Eels: Maroons debutant J’maine Hopgood is Parramatta’s sole Origin concern from Wednesday night’s series opener.

Bye – Dolphins, Raiders, Roosters

with AAP