CRONULLA will be boosted by the return of key forwards Paul Gallen and Sam Tagataese for Friday’s NRL preliminary final against North Queensland.

Gallen sat out the Sharks’ qualifying final victory over Canberra two weeks ago due to a back injury, and Tagataese hasn’t played in five weeks due to a shoulder problem.

However, Sharks coach Shane Flanagan expects them both on deck for the Allianz Stadium battle with the reigning premiers.

“Gal will be right,” Flanagan said at Sharks training at Southern Cross Group Stadium on Sunday.

Round 20

“He was never going to leave any stone unturned to be fit for this game.

Wade Graham, Sam Tagataese and Gerard Beale during training. Source: News Corp Australia

“He was never going to miss this game, these are the games he wants to be a part of.”

Flanagan said both Gallen and Tagataese trained well on Sunday. “Sam is recovering well,” Flanagan said.

“I expect come later in the week he will be knocking on my door saying he is ready to play.”

Cowboys winger Antonio Winterstein is expected to recover from a rib injury to take on the Sharks.

Centre Kane Linnett is a 50-50 proposition as he continues to struggle with a hamstring issue.