KEY POINTS:
The Cowboys have chosen to wear their white away jersey in Sunday's game against the Warriors in Townsville, forcing the visitors to wear black in the Queensland heat.
The Warriors away strip is silver. But the NRL has told the club it is too similar to the Cowboys'
away colours so they must wear their home jersey.
The weather forecast is for 29C on Sunday afternoon and locals predict it will not drop away much in game-time from kick-off at 4pm to 5.40pm.
"There's a number of North Queenslanders praying for heat," a team spokesman said yesterday.
Around 22,500 seat have been sold at the ground, capacity 26,500.
"It's our prerogative as the home team to choose which jersey to wear and we've chosen white," Cowboys chief executive Peter Parr said yesterday. "It will be a nice contrast, white versus black. It should be a lovely day. Look, the Kiwi cricketers wear black don't they - so what's the big deal?"
That was the Warriors reaction too yesterday afternoon at training at Mt Smart Stadium.
"It doesn't bother me, honestly," said captain Steve Price. "I've played in trial games where it's been hotter. It's not an issue to me - we're playing on a rectangular field with grass on it and a crowd that's going nuts."
The Puma jerseys the Warriors wear is made from a "moisture wicking" fabric that draws sweat away from the players' bodies.
Coach Ivan Cleary said: "Hydration is pretty simple, you just need to keep drinking."
Cleary said they were grateful to have another chance after the defeat by the Eels, that their young crew would have learnt plenty from their first-ever playoff, he expected improvement and they would all go to Townsville with confidence.
He exuded calm yesterday as did his players - Townsville holds no fear for them.
"It's kinda nice to be the underdogs really, do our best and see where we get."
Cleary said they had to trust the playing background they'd built during the season. A good start and ball control was important.
"We've got nothing to lose, just get out there and rip in."
They have no injury worries.
Price is likely to surpass the most metres-gained figure for one season since records started in 1998.
Price has taken the Warriors forward 4433m so far and needs another 157m on Sunday to overtake the 4580 made by Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello in 2003 and 2004 and by Broncos wing Wendell Sailor in 2001.
He said he was unaware of the impending feat until mid-week.
"If I get it, that'll be great," he said, but he'd rather have a win for the team and another chance at that record in week three of the playoffs.
This game, Price said, was very important to him personally. "I'm really disappointed when you get opportunities like this and don't make the most of them." He'd experienced that at the Bulldogs and didn't want the feeling again.
Price echoed Cleary's call on ball control. They could not win if they turned over as much ball as they did against the Eels.
Of the heat, he said Cleary had 12 interchanges and always used them according to how individuals were going in the game - Sunday would be no different. The team was rested after a nine-day turnaround and their preparation had been "spot-on".
The captain dismissed talk of a weakened Cowboys pack. "Every pack we come up against rises to the occasion." The second-phase play of the Cowboys pack and the opportunities they were creating was why halfback Johnathan Thurston and fullback Matt Bowen looked so good this season, he said.
Cowboys prop Carl Webb remains in doubt with a calf strain. He has been having two physio sessions a day as well as one in a hyperbaric chamber and is limited to gym work, still walking gingerly after limping off last weekend. Coach Graham Murray said Webb would be given "until the last hour" to declare himself fit.
Their last training, though, is at 7.45am Saturday and it seems that will be the deadline for the State of Origin impact player.
