Canberra's growing injury list and an opportunity to impress their future coach offers North Queensland a chance to cause a NRL boilover at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday.

The form book suggests a Raiders romp, with Canberra winning six of their last seven, and the Cowboys losing six of their last seven - winning just once in their last 16 fixtures.

However, Canberra's already depleted list suffered further reductions following injuries to Marc Herbert and Troy Thompson.

With Herbert sidelined, Canberra captain Alan Tongue will be pressed into service as a makeshift halfback.

The versatile and courageous Canberra leader made light of a positional switch which will see him directly opposed to one of the game's premier halfbacks in Cowboys leader Johnathan Thurston.

"It's just a number on the back really, I played more of a ball playing role this year anyway," Tongue said.

He said in-form five eighth Terry Campese would do the bulk of the Raiders' tactical kicking, with hooker Glen Buttriss helping out.

While Canberra isn't guaranteed a final spot, they have the softest run home of any of the aspirants, finishing off with games against the competition's two whipping boys, the Cowboys and Bulldogs.

Playing their final home game of a disappointing campaign, North Queensland still has a slim chance of offloading the Wooden Spoon to the Bulldogs, but must win at least one of their last two matches.

Another potential incentive could be the opportunity to impress Canberra coach Neil Henry, who will assume control of the Cowboys next year.

Tongue dismissed any suggestion the Cowboys would be cannon fodder for his in-form side.

"There's no doubt this is going to be a tough game, but we will go into it some confidence and hopefully get a good win," Tongue said.

"We need to keep winning to shore up a final spot, so we will be focussed on the Cowboys on Saturday night."

North Queensland's defence will be tested by a Canberra side which has made the most line breaks in the competition which has seen them rack up an average of 42 points over the last seven rounds.

However, the Raiders have a poor overall away record this season of 4-7.

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