North Queensland will roll out a new halves combination in a bid to keep their NRL finals hopes on track, with Jake Clifford recalled to partner Tom Dearden. Clifford was benched for last week's loss to the Dolphins but returns as the eighth-placed Cowboys face Brisbane in another Queensland derby. The Cowboys risking falling out of the top eight with a loss to the Broncos, who beat ladder-leading Penrith last week. Todd Payten's men have a 6-4 record with Dearden and Clifford as their starting halves this year, most recently playing the combination in round 10. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)Melbourne's fight to play in a 16th consecutive NRL finals series has received a vital boost as star halfback Jahrome Hughes returns from a minor hamstring issue.