North Queensland five-eighth Travis Burns has declared it's time for him to step up and ease the pressure on star halfback Johnathan Thurston.

The Cowboys need their pivot firing to ignite a reshuffled backline after losing key attacking weapon Willie Tonga to knee and groin injuries on the eve of their clash with Wests Tigers at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Saturday.

And after a disastrous first year with the Cowboys, including injury and an eight-game suspension, former Manly five-eighth Burns says he expects to take a more active playmaking role.

The pressure is on Burns after Grant Rovelli, recruited from the Warriors, was named on the bench for his Cowboys debut this week.

"I am coming off the back of a couple of injury-riddled seasons, a couple of suspensions it is time for me to step up," Burns said on Friday.

"This is my second year of a three-year contract here so it is time for me to start playing some good footy and hopefully we can win some games."

The Cowboys were forced to shuffle their backline after Tonga was sent for an arthroscopic cleanout of his troublesome knee when a groin tear ruled him out action for up to four weeks.

John Williams makes his return from offseason shoulder surgery on the wing and Ty Williams moves to the vacant centre spot.

Burns expects to see more ball this week after the Cowboys sent the majority of their attacking raids at Israel Folau on the other side of the field during the narrow loss to Brisbane last week.

"JT (Thurston) is the most dominant halfback in the competition," said Burns. "We sort of got stuck out on that left side trying to work Folau over.

"It is going to be shared around a bit more this week and hopefully we get some points down that right side."

Cowboys coach Neil Henry also intends to put heat on Wests Tigers kickers Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah after Marshall had an unhappy night with the boot against Canberra in the first round.

"Unfortunately for Benji he kicked two out but there are no guarantees he is going to do that tomorrow night unless we put a bit of pressure on him," said King.

"We will be looking to pressure him and Robbie Farah. I think he kicked six so he is dangerous with that left foot out of dummy half."

Henry believed his side must contain the Tigers strong forward pack led by Gareth Ellis and Keith Galloway and stop the threat of 105kg winger Taniela Tuiaki who bagged two blockbusting tries last weekend.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP