Despite their contrasting positions on the ladder, with North Queensland pushing for a top-four spot while the South Sydney Rabbitohs languish in 12th, the Cowboys are wary of what desperation can bring out of a side as good as the boys from Redfern.
They have no doubt that a friendly crowd in Cairns will make their job more enjoyable, but not necessarily easier against a Souths side with a huge forward pack, great finishers and halves who can control the game with their kicking.
Captain Gavin Cooper is wary of the talent in the Rabbitohs' side, especially after they piled 42 points on the Panthers two weeks ago.
"They're a strong team… When they're on, they're on. They've got some big boys that roll through the middle, all three Burgess boys are playing at the moment and playing well," Cooper said.
"Little Cook off the bench he's very sharp when he comes on… and when Adam Reynolds is playing on the front foot and his kicking game is on they're hard to handle. If we don't do our job right across the park we'll get our pants pulled down."
North Queensland will be fresh from a week off, with the exception of Cooper, Michael Morgan and Coen Hess who will back up four days after State of Origin Game III.
Coach Paul Green gave them as much rest as he could, and is confident his representative stars will repeat the back-up performance they put in against the Panthers in Round 16.
"They should be OK… just trying to get over Wednesday night and they all should be pretty right for Sunday," Green said.
Green is also confident that his players would have no problem going from the euphoria of an Origin win to a regular club game.
"When you're on a high you're on a high. I'd rather be in this situation than coming off a loss on Wednesday night," he said.
