Reuben Cotter has firmed as a chance to return for North Queensland against St George Illawarra.

North Queensland are poised to be handed a massive boost for their clash with St George Illawarra with Reuben Cotter on track to return from a hamstring injury.

The Queensland State of Origin star returned to team training this week, named on an extended bench for Sunday's match as the Cowboys aim to keep the top-two spot.

He has got through both of those sessions fine, and will play against the Dragons barring any late mishaps or changes of minds from Cowboys officials.

The match would mark his first since his Origin debut in early June, having hurt his hamstring in warm up in his next game back at the Cowboys.

"His likelihood of playing is good," Cowboys coach Todd Payten said.

"He moved well in the first two sessions back with the team. Prior to that he was in the rehab group and running on his own.

"We got his volume up in that area, and he's really moving quick and has been game-specific for the past two days.

"Fingers crossed he will be right to go."

Cotter's return will give the Cowboys' one of the cleanest bills of health of all finals hopefuls headed into August, with only Parramatta and Cronulla rivalling their availability.

Jordan McLean is also out with a hamstring injury but is due to return in coming weeks, while North Queensland's only other absence are Mitchell Dunn and Heilum Luki with season-ending knee injuries.

"We are in a good position at the moment, fingers crossed it continues that way," Payten said.

"I would like to think (it will be important come finals). Teams that stay the healthiest, more often than not, tend to do the best.

"It just offers us a bit more continuity with what we are doing day to day.

"We are able to focus more on our 13-on-13 stuff now rather than pulling blokes in and out, trying to fill holes like we have done for the past month (through Origin)."