Gold Coast co-captain Luke Bailey will line up in an unfamiliar back-row position for Friday's NRL match against North Queensland.

Bailey, who normally plays at prop, has been forced into the second-row with injuries and suspensions hitting the Titans hard.

Regular back-rower Anthony Laffranchi is suspended for the Cowboys clash and lock Ashley Harrison has been ruled out with a rib cartilage injury.

It means the Titans will line-up with Bailey in the No.11 jersey and Brad Meyers at lock in place of Harrison.

At least coach John Cartwright was able to pick back-rower Mark Minichiello for the Cowboys match despite a knee injury.

"We've got a few injuries but I think it's part and parcel," Cartwright said.

"You saw the Broncos last week, every side's going through its injury problems at the moment.

"It's just something you've got to deal with."

Cowboys coach Neil Henry has made just one change from the team which lost to Penrith last weekend, with Anthony Watts returning from a one-week suspension in place of Travis Burns, who drops to the bench.

For Friday's other match Melbourne has recalled winger Steve Turner, centre Greg Inglis and forwards Ryan Hoffman and Dallas Johnson to take on the Dragons.

All four missed last week's win over Cronulla, while Jeff Lima will start in place of the suspended Adam Blair.

Brisbane also have key players coming back for their crucial match at Canberra on Saturday.

While Sam Thaiday, Nick Kenny and Peter Wallace are still missing for the Broncos, captain Darren Lockyer, Queensland Origin star Karmichael Hunt and enforcer Tonie Carroll have all been named to take on the Raiders.

Canberra skipper Alan Tongue has been named at hooker for the home team after starting last week's defeat to the Wests Tigers on the bench.

Newcastle have also been boosted by a captain's return this weekend, with Kurt Gidley named to start Saturday's match against the Sydney Roosters despite missing last week's loss to Manly with a rib cartilage problem.

Penrith forward Frank Pritchard has been named on an extended bench for the Panthers' home match against the Warriors on Saturday night, having been ruled out since round 17 with a broken hand.

The Warriors are without skipper Steve Price after he was ruled out with a rib cartilage injury.

Cronulla have named Blake Green at five-eighth in place of NSW player Trent Barrett, who is out for the season after breaking his cheekbone and fracturing an eye socket in the Sharks' loss to Melbourne last week.

South Sydney, Wests Tigers and Parramatta have named unchanged starting line-ups after their wins over the weekend, while the Bulldogs welcome back lock David Stagg and Manly have recalled Steve Matai and Heath L'Estrange for Monday's game against the Tigers after their suspensions ended.

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