North Queensland co-captain Matt Scott says Cronulla is squarely in their sights ahead of this weekend’s NRL finals action.

“It is a bit of a worry,” Scott said of the Cowboys’ Saturday night knockout semi-final clash.

“After losing to Brisbane (16-12 in finals first round last week), we have to do it the hard way.”

But it may be easier said than done for Scott.

“We have to take a bit of responsibility for that but I would like to think that we are playing a lot better footy (now),” Scott said.

“If we do get into those tight situations we won’t let one bad call wreck it for us.”

North Queensland have not been able to take a trick despite making the NRL finals for the fifth straight year.

Their ill-fated run began when Manly scored off a Kieran Foran knock-on in their 22-12 2012 semi-finals loss.

In 2013 Cronulla scored a seventh tackle try to down North Queensland 20-18 in the finals first round.

And last year the Cowboys looked to have scored a match-winning try only to be denied due to a contentious knock on call in their 31-30 semi-final loss to Sydney Roosters.

Now in their 20th anniversary season, North Queensland have only ever qualified for one grand final – way back in 2005.

Johnathan Thurston has appeared to embrace the underdog tag this year, saying Cronulla were the team to beat.

“I can’t see why they would (be daunted by travelling to Townsville),” the co-captain said.

“They have beaten us twice this year, they have beaten top eight teams throughout the season.

“They are probably the form team of the competition.

“Why would they fear coming up here?”