Broncos veteran Sam Thaiday says complacency will not be an issue on Friday night when his side hosts the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium.
It will be fifth versus eighth in a clash many expect Brisbane to win, but Thaiday has reason to take the Gold Coast very seriously as they try and upset the Broncos in what will be retiring captain Corey Parker's last home game.
Thaiday knows this week's opponents better than most, having played in 16 of the 20 encounters between the two clubs since the Titans joined the NRL in 2007.
In fact, he and retiring Titans co-captain Nathan Friend will be the only two players on Friday night that took the field in the first NRL clash between the two sides back in April of 2007 NRL season.
Friend's side was victorious over Brisbane that night, with the Titans securing a famous 28-16 victory over the then reigning premiers.
What made the win even more significant was the fact that the Gold Coast took their home game to Suncorp Stadium and beat the Broncos on their own patch.
Thaiday told NRL.com from that moment on he knew he had to take the Titans seriously as a football team.
"I've personally always taken the Titans seriously. They are a really good team and a tough team to beat. They are always going to show up against the Broncos," Thaiday said.
"It was very much an early message to us when they came up here in 2007 and beat us at Suncorp. It showed us they were here to play and weren't easybeats.
"They've put in some fantastic performances against us and there have been some memorable games for us against the Titans.
"The rivalry has certainly created some fantastic highlights and nothing will change come Friday.
"It will be a tough battle. We're both fighting to play next week."
It's a rivalry that has only appeared once previously in the finals, with the Broncos running out 40-32 winners in their 2009 qualifying final match against the Titans at Robina Stadium.
The Gold Coast had some household names in their side that night, with the likes of Scott Prince, Mat Rogers and Preston Campbell all running out for the Titans.
Thaiday fondly recalled playing against some of the Gold Coast's best, saying the local derby always brought out the best in them.
"I still remember back in the early days when they had some fantastic players," he said.
"A local derby is always a big match. It's the type of game you really want to get up for.
"You can ask anyone at the Titans or anyone at the Cowboys, you always want to get bragging rights when there are two Queensland teams playing each other."
