Payten pulls trigger on Cowboys' big guns for Broncos

North Queensland need a massive shift in form to compete with Brisbane which is why coach Todd Payten had no choice but to elevate three of his most influential players to the top side.

Forward leader Jason Taumalolo got through 56 minutes for Mackay on Sunday in the Queensland Cup and takes his place at prop after recovering fully from off-season foot surgery.

Halfback Jake Clifford, who had hernia surgery in pre-season, replaces rookie Tom Duffy and Queensland forward Jeremiah Nanai returns on the bench after being axed following the dismal round-one loss to Manly.

Nanai's attacking wares will be vital to putting the Broncos' edge defence on red alert when the sides meet at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.

Papua New Guinea winger Rob Derby also comes into the team for the injured Braidon Burns (hamstring).

Both Clifford and Nanai played for Northern Pride on the weekend.

The Cowboys have been dismal in defence and impotent in attack in their opening losses to Manly and Cronulla.

The experienced trio of key returnees are all attacking weapons and will give the players around them confidence.

Taumalolo is the ace in the pack. Players feel 10 feet taller when the 2015 premiership winner runs out beside them. Bench forward Sam McIntyre is one of them.

"Experience, size, speed, strength, ball playing ? what else? Everything," McIntyre said when asked what the club legend offered.

"He is obviously one of them Cowboys all-time greats. Whenever he is in our side we are a better side."

For Payten the relief at having his most influential forward back was more than a relief.

"Awesome," Payten said.

"He's had an interrupted pre-season. He felt he wasn't right last week and played 50 minutes on the weekend and was pretty strong. He gives confidence to everyone in the team and we are looking forward to having him back."

The Broncos were monstered by Canberra last week and the Cowboys bench has size and oomph with Nanai, Griffin Neame and Coen Hess joining McIntyre. The template to charge through the middle appears clear.

The return of Clifford, who was integral to the side's run to the finals last year, will provide more spark and confidence.

"Jake is a bigger body. He (has) a good kick and is a good tackler," Payten said.

"It is a tough one for Duff. He's had a couple of games and we haven't gone well. There were some tough lessons for him."

The Cowboys cannot afford to go 0-3 to start the year with clashes against the Raiders and Penrith to follow.

The fact they are playing the Broncos, their fiercest foe, is a godsend.

"I don't think we need any motivation to play the Broncos, our biggest rival," McIntyre said

"It doesn't matter if we have 10 losses in a row or 10 wins in a row. It is the same with them. As soon as we play each other it is all square. Regardless of how we went the first two weeks all the boys will be ready to play."