INJURED Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway and strike centre Dean Collis are expected to return for the crucial NRL round 19 clash against North Queensland this Sunday at Leichhardt Oval, 3pm.

The Tigers are walking the final tightrope and with eight rounds remaining are 14th, on 16 points, after last weekend’s bye.

Realistically, to make the finals they would need to win seven and perhaps their eight remaining games to sneak into eighth place and hope that teams higher up stumble.

Galloway (knee) and Collis (broken arm) have been sidelined for six weeks.

Wests Tigers’ media and communications manager Wayne Cousins said the week off was a blessing for the club with many players affected by flu and other viruses.

‘‘A lot of the boys have been ill, so the break was a godsend,’’ Cousins said.

‘‘Keith and Dean should be right to play against the Cowboys.

‘‘But their final selections will be governed by medical advice and, of course, coach Tim Sheens.’’

In other news, utility player Dene Halatau is out for between six and eight weeks with a knee injury suffered against South Sydney.

And talented youngster Blake Lazarus, who has missed most of the past two seasons with serious knee injuries, has signed a new one-year contract for 2010.

Last year, Lazarus, played four matches in the Toyota Cup team until be broke down with a knee injury.

Now 21, Lazarus then tore the anterior cruciate knee ligament in a trial match for Balmain Ryde–Eastwood against Cabramatta before a ball was kicked in the 2009 NRL season.

Lazarus, who’s a skilled full-back or half-back, said he was appreciative of the faith the Tigers have shown.

‘‘It’s great to know where I will be playing next year,’’ he said. ‘‘I am grateful for the faith the Tigers, coach Tim Sheens and the recruitment manager Warren McDonnell have shown in me.’’

The Tigers will also have skipper and NSW State of Origin discard Robbie Farah leading the team against the Cowboys. Bulldogs hooker Michael Ennis was preferred by the NSW selectors for tonight’s State of Origin III between the Blues and Maroons at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 8pm.

New Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys kicked-off a week earlier to head the administration.

Match kick-off against the Cowboys is 3pm.