Thurston, McRae

North Queensland playmaker Johnathan Thurston has rushed back from injury to press his Kangaroo Test selection chances in tonight's round 26 clash with Parramatta at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Thurston was to miss the rest of the season with a grade three medial ligament strain to his knee, but has overcome the injury and trained strongly yesterday to be a late inclusion for the Cowboys' final match of the season. Seventh-placed Parramatta meanwhile welcome back halfback Tim Smith and prop Michael Vella as they seek to improve their position in the finals series.

The Eels can finish as high as fifth with a win but drop to eighth, and a dreaded first week visit to Melbourne, with a loss.

Elsewhere, a shattered Shaun McRae has spoken out about being dumped as coach of South Sydney.

McRae, who was replaced by Jason Taylor in the top job for 2007, spoke on UK television's Boots `n' All sports show, describing his axing as like being hit over the head with a sledgehammer. He said he felt shellshocked because he had been earlier told his position was not under threat.