North Queensland Toyota Cowboys head coach Paul Green has wasted no time bringing Shaun Fensom back into the fold with the 29-year-old named to make his NRL season debut against the Raiders at 1300SMILES Stadium on Saturday night.
His first Cowboys appearance of 2018 will come just one week after returning from a serious leg injury.
Fensom made his comeback to the field through the Queensland Cup with the Townsville Blackhawks last weekend – his first game action since suffering a broken leg in the opening exchanges of last season's grand final.
The hard-working middle forward comes into the side as a straight swap for John Asiata, who is set for an extended stint on the sidelines after tearing a pectoral muscle in the Round 7 victory over the Titans.
Fensom will join utility Te Maire Martin and forwards Corey Jensen and Ethan Lowe on the interchange bench.
Young playmaker Jake Clifford replaces outside back Javid Bowen on the extended bench in the only other change to Green's 21-man squad.
Saturday's game kicks off at 7.30pm.
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys v Canberra Raiders
Round 8, 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership
7.30pm, Saturday 28 April, 1300SMILES Stadium
Tickets: ticketek.com.au
#NRLCowboysRaiders #ridemcowboys
1. Lachlan Coote
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Justin O'Neill
4. Ben Hampton
5. Antonio Winterstein
6. Michael Morgan
7. Johnathan Thurston (c)
8. Matthew Scott (c)
9. Jake Granville
10. Scott Bolton
11. Gavin Cooper
12. Coen Hess
13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange:
14. Te Maire Martin
15. Shaun Fensom
16. Corey Jensen
17. Ethan Lowe
Reserves:
18. Francis Molo
19. Jake Clifford
20. Enari Tuala
21. Sam Hoare
