TOUGH: Braden Uele of the Cowboys is tackled by Zane Tetevano, (left), and Aidan Guerra of the Roosters during the Round 21 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium.

TOUGH: Braden Uele of the Cowboys is tackled by Zane Tetevano, (left), and Aidan Guerra of the Roosters during the Round 21 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium. DAN HIMBRECHTS

IF MACKAY Cutters' Braden Uele takes to the field for the Cowboys, tensions are expected to run high between the two teams with a bitter feud seemingly unfolding over the aspiring player.

While neither Cronulla nor the Cowboys would comment on or confirm Uele's rumoured big-money move south, Cronulla club insiders have revealed to the Daily Mercury 22-year-old Uele has signed on with the Sharks for the 2018 and 2019 seasons, leaving the Cowboys camp seething.

Cowboys coach Paul Green have named Uele on its bench for the do-or-die clash with the Sharks.

North Queensland's frustration appears to stem from the fact they have developed the 112kg prop for the past three years leading to an impressive debut in round 21 of the 2017 season when the Cowboys recorded a narrow loss to the Roosters.

The Kiwi Junior has also had a long-term relationship with Paul Green with the Cowboys coach having mentored him both during his time in NQ and with the Roosters Under 20s back in 2013.

Recording 15 tackles, five hit-ups and 48 running metres on debut, Uele is expected to add extra beef to Cronulla's already dominant forward line as the rumoured replacement for retiring veteran forward Chris Heighington. Mackay Cutters coach Steve Sheppard also declined to comment on Uele's potential movements, however wished him well for this weekend's Cowboys and Sharks clash.

"All the best for him this weekend and I hope to see him get a run again. If he does I'm sure he will put his best foot forward like he did last time,” Sheppard said.

Green is hopeful the longer 10-day turnaround will have them fit and firing for Sunday's sudden-death clash with the Sharks. Green has named an unchanged team for their elimination final at Sydney's Allianz Stadium, with Te Maire Martin (knee), Lachlan Coote (ankle), and Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) all expected to play despite niggling injuries.

Winterstein was visibly struggling after hurting his hamstring in last weekend's loss to the Broncos, but he trained strongly on Tuesday and Green backed the trio to prove their fitness.

"It's a longer turnaround so we've got the luxury of a bit of time this week,” Green said.

"A couple of those guys are still nursing niggling injuries so we've just got to be smart about their load and how much they do.

"I think it (the 10-day break) has come at a great time for us given in our last few games there were certainly guys who, earlier in the year, I probably wouldn't have played if I'd had a bit more depth up my sleeve, but we're at that time of the year so I had to play them.”

Cowboys NRL squad: 1 Lachlan Coote, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Javid Bowen, 4 Kane Linnett, 5 Antonio Winterstein, 6 Te Maire Martin, 7 Michael Morgan, 8 John Asiata, 9 Jake Granville, 10 Scott Bolton, 11 Gavin Cooper (c), 12 Ethan Lowe, 13 Jason Taumalolo, 14 Ben Hampton, 15 Coen Hess, 16 Corey Jensen, 17 Shaun Fensom, 18 Ray Thompson, 19 Kyle Laybutt, 20 Braden Uele, 21 Enari Tuala.