St George Illawarra's fading finals hopes are all but extinguished as they head north to face the Cowboys for Friday night's Round 21 clash at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

The Dragons' ongoing injury woes have continued with rookie winger Sione Finau joining Maroons centre Valentine Holmes in being ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Shane Flanagan has brought in Mat Feagai at centre with Corey Allan shifting to the wing for the crucial match against North Queensland.

Emre Guler has been named in the run-on side with Michael Molo on the interchange after the pair were involved in late switch on Saturday evening in the only other change to the team which lost last Saturday to Canterbury.

Gerringong Lions forward Hamish Stewart has retained his place on the bench after he made 27 tackles in just 32 minutes along with 67 metres from eight hit-ups against the Dogs.

The Dragons looked like they were about to cause a boilover win over the high-flying Bulldogs but a late try to Jethro Rinakama with less than three minutes on the clock gave the home side a 20-18 triumph.

They have now lost eight matches this year by 10 points or less and have won just once in their past six outings.

Both teams are falling out of finals contention with the Dragons now likely to have to win their remaining seven matches to have any hope of sneaking into the playoffs.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten has named English forward John Bateman in the second row to make his return from a groin complaint, but playmaker Jake Clifford (thigh) will miss another week.

In the NRLW, the Dragons are at home to the Broncos on Sunday at WIN Stadium, sitting in sixth spot on the ladder with a 2-1 record.

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Braidon Burns 6. Thomas Duffy 7. Tom Dearden 8. Harrison Edwards 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Karl Lawton 15. Kaiden Lahrs 16. Kai O’Donnell 17. Coen Hess 18. Jaxson Paulo 19. Nicholas Lenaz 20. Temple Kalepo 21. Marly Bitungane 22. Dane Aukafolau

Dragons: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Mathew Feagai 5. Corey Allan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Hamish Stewart 17. Michael Molo 18. Nicholas Tsougranis 19. Ben Murdoch-Masila 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 22. Jacob Halangahu