All the Late Mail team news ahead of this week's NRL matches.

Panthers v Cowboys, Sunday 4.05pm at Panthers Stadium

Panthers: The Panthers will start 1-17 with Mitch Kenny and Malakai Watene-Zelezniak the two players left out an hour before kick-off. Centre Dean Whare returns with Brent Naden moving to the wing in place of Charlie Staines. Matt Burton and Lindsay Smith were the players omitted from the reserves bench on Saturday.

The Panthers return to their home ground for the first time since Round 1.

Cowboys: Daejarn Asi will start at five-eighth, with Mitchell Dunn dropping back to the bench. Corey Jensen and Murray Tualagi were the two players omitted 60 minutes before game time.

With Val Holmes set to be sidelined for two months with an ankle injury, Justin O'Neill returns on the wing. 

North Queensland on Friday were granted an exemption to replace props Jordan McLean (calf) and John Asista (knee) in the 21-man squad. Ben Hampton drops off the bench with Reuben Cotter joining the interchange and Emry Pere the other player omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. The Cowboys have won five of their past seven games against the Panthers.