Cowboys coach Neil Henry will test the theory "if you're old enough, you're good enough" with exciting 18 year-old Michael Morgan to make his NRL debut against the Sydney Roosters on Monday night.

The Australian and Queensland Schoolboys star and Townsville junior will pull on the No.7 jumper usually worn by representative halfback Johnathan Thurston who was ruled out of Friday night's Test clash in Melbourne with a shoulder injury.

In a massive weekend, 35 players from Friday night's Test and annual City-Country clash will back up for their NRL clubs.

Morgan, who lists Brisbane's Darren Lockyer as his childhood hero, has been playing the house down for the Cowboys in the Toyota Cup.

He and another under-20s player, five-eighth Ray Thompson, have been earmarked as future stars for the club with locals anxiously waiting for them to get their chance in the top grade.

Thompson made an impressive debut at five-eighth a few weeks ago but dislocated his shoulder in a training mishap last week.

Morgan will partner Grant Rovelli in the halves with classy hooker Aaron Payne also named to make his eagerly awaited return from injury.

Payne ran with the club's rehab squad on Tuesday and will play provided he passes a fitness test later in the week.

Injury-hit Brisbane welcome back prop Nick Kenny, named on the bench against the Storm on Sunday, following a three week battle with a calf injury.

Kenny's return is timely for Brisbane with Melbourne looking to give their fans a first-up victory at their new home ground in Melbourne.

Coach Ivan Henjak has named hard-running utility Ben Te'o at left centre, sending a confidence-shot Steve Michaels back to the Queensland Cup.

He has also swapped props with Scott Anderson to start, ahead of Mitchell Dodds.

Meanwhile the Titans have named the same side that beat Penrith last weekend for the match against Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday.

The Knights, who came from 10 points down to beat Brisbane last weekend, received some good news with representative prop Steve Simpson declaring himself ready to return from injury.

The Roosters have named five-eighth Braith Anasta for their Monday night clash with the Cowboys at the Sydney Football Stadium despite an ankle injury forcing him out of the City-Country showdown.

And twelve players will back up from Friday's representative matches for Manly (7) and St George Illawarra (5) at Brookvale Oval on Saturday.

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