Injured Riddell 50-50 to face Cowboys

Parramatta hooker Mark Riddell is rated a "fifty-fifty" chance of overcoming a rib injury in time for Saturday's NRL clash with North Queensland.

Eels coach Michael Hagan on Tuesday named Riddell in the side to face the winless Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium, giving the hooker until Thursday to prove his fitness for the clash.

Riddell was forced off the field midway through the second half of last Friday's golden point win over Newcastle when he twisted awkwardly trying to reach out for the tryline.

It was feared the injury could have been serious before x-rays cleared the hooker of a fracture on Saturday.

"Mark's probably fifty-fifty at this point in time so we're happy to give him a few days to get right," Hagan said.

"We don't fly (to Townsville) until Thursday, by which time we should know more about how he's travelling.

"I'm fairly comfortable with our depth and we've got a few options available to us at this point in time so we'll be right even if Mark doesn't make the trip."