Cairns set to host Scott's NRL return

North Queensland co-captain Matt Scott's long awaited NRL return has been pencilled in for the Cowboys' opening 2018 trial against Wests Tigers in Cairns on February 17.

The recovering Test prop is expected to finally return from a knee reconstruction along with centre Shaun Hudson at the Cairns trial which was confirmed by the Cowboys on Wednesday.

After breaking down in round two, Scott has spent the last 10 months with Hudson as they recover from ACL injuries.

Cowboys coach Paul Green toyed with injecting the Queensland front-rower into their 2017 NRL playoff campaign, naming him in injury-hit extended squads for the preliminary final and season decider.

But he was cut for each game after injury concerns Coen Hess (knee) and John Asiata (broken hand) were cleared to play.