North Queensland have dropped a bombshell by naming co-captain Matt Scott on an extended bench for Saturday night’s NRL preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters.

But Cowboys coach Paul Green insists the Test prop is unlikely to return from a knee reconstruction in the grand-final qualifier at Allianz Stadium.

“I think he wanted me to name him so, given he’s one of our captains and he’s worked as hard as what he has, I at least owe him that,” Green said.

“(But) as long as everyone gets through training, I don’t expect the team to change.”

Scott suffered the injury in round two.

Back-rower Coen Hess (knee) and winger Antonio Winterstein (ribs) are expected to participate on Wednesday in the Cowboys’ first training session of the week.

North Queensland line up against a Roosters outfit who welcome winger Daniel Tupou back to the starting side, moving Ryan Matterson to the bench and Joseph Manu to the reserves.

Roosters enforcer Zane Tetevano returns from suspension.

Meanwhile, Brisbane welcomed skipper Darius Boyd and bench forward Tevita Pangai Junior back from hamstring injuries and named recovering winger Corey Oates for Friday night’s preliminary final against an unchanged Melbourne.

But Broncos back-rower Sam Thaiday believes the jury is out on whether Oates will return from a head knock, suffered in last week’s 13-6 semi-final win over Penrith.

Oates is on modified training at the Broncos after a sickening first-half collision with teammate Anthony Milford and being taken off on a medicab.

Brisbane are not expected to make a final call on Oates until Thursday’s captain’s run.

“We will see with Corey. He is still doing some modified training. It’s something you don’t want to rush,” said Thaiday.

“Something as severe as Corey was pretty sickening to see.”

Boyd returns to fullback after two weeks sidelined, moving incumbent No.1 Kodi Nikorima to halfback and relegating veteran Benji Marshall to the bench.