North Queensland have sensationally axed halfback Jake Clifford to give impressive young gun Jaxon Purdue his first chance in his position of choice.

Mackay product Purdue will start at five-eighth against Manly on Saturday night in place of Clifford, who missed two shots at a game-winning field goal in the 30-30 draw with Penrith last weekend.

Purdue, 19, has been a revelation in the centres for the Cowboys this season, but played in the halves as a junior.

He could remain there for another week if co-captain Tom Dearden is selected for Queensland in the State of Origin series opener on May 28.

Purdue's promotion means Dearden shifts to halfback and Zac Laybutt comes into the outside backs for his first game of the season.

Clifford has been solid this year after impressing on return to the first-grade side late last season, but lines up as replacement player.

Out-of-sorts Brisbane have made a halves change of their own, recalling Ezra Mam for his first game of the year in place of the injured Ben Hunt.

Mam, who served a nine-game ban for drug-driving, made his return to the field through reserve grade last week and will partner Adam Reynolds against St George Illawarra.

Elsewhere, incumbent NSW winger Zac Lomax will have one last chance to push his Origin case provided he can clear a final fitness test for Parramatta's trip to Newcastle.

The clash would be the gun recruit's first alongside Eels halfback Mitch Moses, who missed the start of the season with his own foot issue.

A knee injury to Greg Marzhew has left the Knights to name debutant Fletcher Hunt on the wing as they look to recover from a demoralising loss to Gold Coast.

Kieran Foran is in line to play his first game of the season, with the Titans naming their veteran playmaker to return from a biceps injury against Canberra.

Alex Johnston will resume his push for the all-time try-scoring record when he returns from a hamstring injury for South Sydney's clash with Wests Tigers.

Tigers coach Benji Marshall resisted the urge to make mass changes after his side's humiliating 64-0 loss to Melbourne.

But Fonua Pole's knee injury has forced a reshuffle that leaves Tallyn Da Silva in the reserves.

Storm hooker Harry Grant is listed in the reserves, so may have one last chance to return from a hamstring injury and push his Origin case against Cronulla.

James Fisher-Harris and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have both been named to return for the Warriors in their clash against the Dolphins.