Veteran second-rower Nathan Hindmarsh says the Eels must improve their "rubbish" goalline defence when they take on North Queensland in their NRL clash at Parramatta Stadium on Friday night.

Anything less than a win is expected to see the Eels miss out on the NRL finals after horror losses to Manly, Souths and Penrith sent them three points adrift of the top eight.

An injury-ravaged Cowboys outfit will be equally desperate for the two points after a club record 11 match losing streak.

Coach Michael Hagan has resisted the urge to wield the axe too heavily, promoting Matthew Keating to hooker and benching sick forward Mark Riddell in the only change to their starting side.

Hindmarsh said the Eels aren't talking up the Cowboys match as a finals defining encounter, instead they'll be focussing on getting the basics right and securing the elusive win.

"They say you've got to complete 85 per cent of your sets these days and we're only completing at about 70 per cent so I think ball control is a thing we have to look at," Hindmarsh said.

"Our goalline defence is pretty rubbish at the moment.

"You can't tackle guys standing on the tryline, they're just going to fall over and score."

Eels five-eighth Brett Finch echoed his teammate's remarks and revealed the extent of the worrying defensive slip.

"I think in the last two weeks we've let in three tries from dummy half and you shouldn't have three in a year," Finch said.

"Obviously our situation is getting more desperate but there's no use having that at the back of your head."

The Cowboys will welcome the return of influential prop Carl Webb and field a new-look forward pack.

Meanwhile, Brisbane welcome Test centre Justin Hodges back from suspension for their clash with Cronulla, who will field an unchanged side.

Canberra have replaced suspended halfback Todd Carney with young star Marc Herbert while Gold Coast centre Brett Delaney returns while Ashley Harrison shifts to five-eighth for the injured Mat Rogers.

Wests Tigers captain Brett Hodgson returns from injury for Saturday's trip to Penrith while Newcastle too have their skipper Danny Buderus back for Sunday's home game with South Sydney.

The Rabbitohs have promoted George Ndaira at hooker to replace the suspended Issac Luke.

Manly veteran Steve Menzies will play five-eighth in place of injured Jamie Lyon for Sunday's blockbuster with the Sydney Roosters while Glenn Hall comes into the Sea Eagles starting side for the first time this year.

New Zealand Warriors, Melbourne, the Bulldogs and St George-Illawarra all named unchanged sides.

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