Walker has been named to partner rookie Hugo Savala in the halves, with Sandon Smith omitted from the 17.

The Roosters will also welcome back Billy Smith from a knee injury and their five State of Origin representatives – Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, Robert Toia and Spencer Leniu – all of whom missed last week’s 30-28 loss to Wests Tigers.

That result left the Roosters ninth on the ladder and facing a battle to make the finals. They will probably need at least five wins from their remaining nine games to qualify.

Tupou, who has appeared in 10 finals campaigns during his 16-season career, has no doubt Trent Robinson’s new-look team is “heading in the right direction.”

“We’re on the fringe, and we’ve just got to keep winning games … we’re tracking really well and our mindset is this weekend and one game at a time,” he said.

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In other team news, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has left the door ajar for his five Origin stars – Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards – to play against Parramatta at Commbank Stadium on Sunday by naming them all on an extended bench.

They will all be assessed after Wednesday’s interstate series decider, but with Penrith clinging to sixth position, Cleary may be less inclined to rest them than he has been in previous seasons.

Parramatta’s major change is the inclusion of Tallyn Da Silva, who joined them last week from Wests Tigers, to make his club debut off the bench.

Meanwhile, Canterbury have named Lachlan Galvin in jersey No.17 to face the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday, after starting him at five-eighth in last week’s 22-18 loss to Brisbane.

Toby Sexton, who signed last week to join Catalans Dragons in Super League, was selected at halfback, alongside Matt Burton in the halves.

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Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.