Todd Payten says his North Queensland players have proven their capabilities and now it's up to them to prove their growth as an NRL squad when they play the Sydney Roosters.
With two wins on the trot, the Cowboys will run out in front of their homes fans on Saturday evening aiming to show they can match it with some of the NRL's best in their biggest test of the season so far.
Coach Payten says the proof is in the pudding and if they can garner momentum from last weekend's stunning 38-12 defeat of Brisbane, they'll be hard to stop.
"Last week was proof to our whole squad that we've got the capabilities to do it if we can hang in there tough, defend and work hard for each other under fatigue," Payten said on Friday
"When we get our opportunities we can score some points.
"It''s just proof to the rest of squad about what we've been talking about during this preseason; about playing the game the right way, it works. So, a little forward step in our growth as a squad."
Payten has made one change to the side that thrashed Brisbane with Coen Hess failing his fitness test and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown returning from a knee complaint suffered in round one.
Taunoa-Brown's inclusion will thicken the Cowboys' forward stocks, with the Roosters boasting an imposing and physical pack - an area where Payten believes the game will be won and lost.
"I expect them to come through the front door with their physicality and the way that they run," he said.
"I thought they were pretty expensive over the first three rounds - I reckon that'll tighten up and they'll go back to their power game."
Having himself experienced coaching his side from home due to COVID-19 protocols last season, Payten didn't expect the Roosters to be disrupted without coach Trent Robinson in the sheds on Saturday.
Roosters assistant coach Matt King said Robinson would call in by phone during the match and they expected an exuberant Cowboys to test them in their first matchup of the season.
"Rylesy (Jason Ryles) and I will be in charge of the messages and then where he can help out he definitely will," King told reporters.
"The Cowboys are playing with great energy, so firstly, we need to match that.
"Secondly, with our defence, we need to match their strike; their strike all over the park now, particularly with their fullbacks in the centres and big Jason (Taumalolo) in the middle.
"We've got a challenge on our hands but it's one we are ready for."
