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North Queensland playmaker Tom Dearden plays with Manly half Daly Cherry-Evans for Queensland but there will be no love lost in the NRL clash in Townsville.

North Queensland co-captain Tom Dearden has warned his Queensland halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans that he will be a target when Manly plays in Townsville.

The duo work together in Maroons camp but all bets are off for Saturday night's clash that will be vital to both sides' top eight hopes.

The Cowboys, after a superb 16-6 win over Penrith without their State of Origin players, are in seventh spot on the NRL ladder on 20 points with the Sea Eagles in ninth on 19 points.

No.6 Dearden said half Cherry-Evans was "a great leader and player" without obvious weaknesses.

"I think we have probably got to target him a little bit and send a bit of traffic his way and hopefully that will take away a little bit of his impact on the game," Dearden said.

"He has got a great kicking game and I think our back five need to make sure they are in position and we take away his momentum with his kicking game."

North Queensland rested the six Origin players that played last Wednesday night in game two of the series. Without them the Cowboys conjured up Sunday's stunning win away to the Panthers.

The club backed up most of their Origin stars after game one and Dearden said they were not happy with how they played in a 42-12 home loss to the Warriors.

"A couple of weeks ago we got it wrong with not turning up in that Warriors performance and I think it is important that we all own up to getting it done this weekend because it is a vital game in our season," Dearden said.

"All us Origin boys are proud of how the boys played (against Penrith). I thought they competed and defended their tryline really well and it was great to be able to get a win like that down in Penrith."

Adding to the Cowboys' challenge is the return of the Sea Eagles' most dangerous player Tom Trbojevic from injury.

"Manly have some strike weapons and are a really good attacking side. Tom Trbojevic is a big in for them (at centre) but our challenge is making sure we prepare our best and get our game on," Dearden said.

"It is hard to shut players like (Trbojevic) down but I think the most important thing is that we control possession.

"(Coach) Toddy Payten always talks about putting the ball in the corner and making them work their way out and that takes away from players like Tom Trbojevic and their impact on the game."