In a testament to their incredible depth of player talent, the Broncos have the luxury of replacing their form centre with the club's leading try-scorer from last season ahead of Friday's clash against Newcastle.

The in-form Jack Reed (soreness) will sit out the Suncorp Stadium encounter with Dale Copley returning on the interchange bench to play his first NRL match since Anzac Day.

Copley topped Brisbane's try-scoring chart last season with 16 tries but has struggled for game time this year due to injury, Reed's form and the emergence of Jordan Kahu.

Kahu will move to the centres to line-up opposite former Bronco Dane Gagai, while Corey Oates will shift from the bench to the wing. 

Daniel Vidot (hamstring) and Sam Thaiday (rested) will miss out on facing the 15th-placed Knights.

 

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett hasn't been afraid to adopt a rotation policy during the Origin period, with Queensland veterans Corey Parker, Justin Hodges, and now Thaiday, all being rested.

The master coach has also been wary not to overwork his troops this week after Sunday's monumental defensive effort against the Storm.

"They've all pulled up pretty well, they had a light week and I'm sure they'll be better for the run on [Thursday] morning," Bennett said.

"Sam had to back up [against Melbourne] and we rested Corey last time when he played in Canberra but missed the next week. It just helps those older players who have played a lot of football.

"Last weekend was obviously a pretty heavy workload and having to back up after five days so the players will just have to lift themselves.

"If they are feeling tired or sorry for themselves they'll just have to get over it and get the job done."

Bennett will face his former club for the second time this season after guiding a depleted Broncos side minus their Origin stars to a 31-18 victory in Round 11.

The Knights won their first four games of the season but have only won once since then, making them a tricky proposition according to Bennett.

"They'll be desperate to find a win. They've had a pretty rough eight to 10 weeks now so they'll want to get it right," he said.

"We're a bit vulnerable right now – we've had a good season, come off a great win and are near the end of Origin, but it's not over yet – it's a game we've got to make sure our minds are on the job.

"We can't win if we just turn up and go through the motions."

A win on Friday night would see Bennett's men stilling on 28 competition points prior to Origin III, with another bye due next weekend.

Brisbane will play the Bulldogs in Sydney three days following the Origin decider before consecutive home games against the Tigers and Titans.

However, they'll face a daunting series of matches during the final six rounds on the season.

Games against the Sea Eagles (away), Bulldogs (home), Dragons (home), Roosters (away), Rabbitohs (away) and Storm (home) await the current ladder leaders in their run towards the finals.

"Every game is hard now – it's not like the past where you could look at the draw and pick out the easy games. There are no easy games anymore so you accept what it is," Bennett added.

"We do have some quality teams to play in the last six weeks but we'll be in great shape – or poor shape depending on how we play in that six-week period. It is what it is so we just have to do the best we can with it.

"It's the other side (of the Origin period) we've got to come out of yet so it's still not over for us. In two or three weeks we should be clear of it and the hangover from the team part of it. 

"But because we've been able to rest some players that will help us enormously.

"We've had a little bit of luck and let's just hope it keeps working for us."