Images of a spent Dallas Johnson have spurred on the North Queensland Cowboys ahead of Monday night's NRL clash with Melbourne in Townsville.

Former Test lock Johnson's hard-nosed reputation precedes him.

However, Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott believes North Queensland are primed to "do it for Dallas" as he prepared to line up against his former club.

No stranger to rattling off more than 40 tackles a game, the lightly framed yet dangerous Johnson was again at his damagingly defensive best last round against Newcastle.

Yet it wasn't enough with the Cowboys losing badly at home, taking the gloss off their gutsy season-opening two-point victory over arch rivals Brisbane.

But Scott said the Cowboys were not lacking motivation against the Storm after watching Johnson being dragged from the field against the Knights after tackling himself to a standstill.

"He's not only an inspiration for the young blokes coming through but also myself - he's always got his head down doing work," Scott told AAP.

"At training he's 100 per cent and he is always doing extras afterwards.

"And out on the field you know he is going to turn up next to you - he is the sort of bloke you don't want to let down.

"Which is why we don't want to let him down against his former club Melbourne."

Johnson left Melbourne for French-based Catalan Dragons at the end of 2009, before last year's rorting scandal hit.

But his NRL exit was due to salary cap pressure.

All eyes may be on the halfback battle between Cowboys co-skipper Johnathan Thurston and Storm playmaker Cooper Cronk in Monday's showdown ahead of the Origin opener.

But Johnson will provide a riveting sub-plot.

"It's a special occasion for him," Scott said of Johnson's clash with Melbourne.

"He will want to put in a good performance and we are definitely aware of that after not being good enough last weekend - we have a lot to play for.

"He goes in at 100 miles an hour, there's not much to him even though he is always trying to put weight on.

"He's just a tough bloke, plays the game tough.

"It doesn't matter what size the bloke he is coming up against, he is always dropping the head and shoulder and getting stuck into them."

Johnson provides timely inspiration after their last round hiccup against an injury-plagued Knights.

"I can't pinpoint what happened during the week (ahead of the Newcastle game) - there's no excuses," Scott said.

"We just weren't there mentally."

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