It's being billed as a fortnight of familiar faces for Broncos fullback Darius Boyd but the former Dragon and Knight says much of his attachment to those clubs has disappeared with the dramatically different player rosters.
Only four members of the current Dragons squad were part of the famous Red V when Boyd played the last of his three seasons there in 2011 and next week's opponents, the Newcastle Knights, have just 11 players remaining from the 32 who played with Boyd in 2014.
Having won a premiership with St George Illawarra in 2010 Boyd says he does still hold a deep affection for the club but admitted with such a new-look squad those feelings diminish over time.
"Playing the Dragons the first year I left, there were so many of the same players still there and you've just come from that club so you really want to win," Boyd told NRL.com.
"We play the Dragons now though and there are probably only two or three guys still there, it's such a different squad.
"Even when we play Newcastle this year, I think that will be a bit different with a lot of new guys there too.
"The first year after you leave it definitely means something, it did for me anyway.
"Playing for the club you always do give your hardest and play your best but when you leave the year after, with all the same players and coaching staff, it feels a bit close to your heart but as the years go on it changes."
Of course, Boyd isn't the only current Bronco with former ties to the Dragons with coach Wayne Bennett at the helm for three years from 2009 to 2011 before embarking on a three-year stint at Newcastle.
The 28-year-old custodian has no doubt that playing against a Wayne Bennett-coached team provides additional motivation for the Dragons and Knights when they now play the Broncos, as he found when he was in the visitors' sheds at Suncorp Stadium.
"Whether it was because we had Wayne as a coach and [the Broncos] got up because it was against Wayne I'm not sure but I've always had tough games against Brisbane," said Boyd.
"When you come to Suncorp everyone loves playing there. I loved coming here when I was at Newcastle and the Dragons, it didn't really feel like an away game.
"It's a big stadium and the fans are great. You don't really get booed by the Brisbane crowd like you do at other local grounds and clubs and I think most teams get up for Brisbane anyway."
The Dragons are stinging from a 36-0 drubbing at the hands of the Cowboys last Saturday night and Boyd expects that they will face the brunt of their disappointment from the weekend when they meet on Thursday night.
In 400 minutes of football the Dragons have only been able to post 40 points including a club record low of six tries from their first five games.
"They didn’t play their best on the weekend, but I've seen a few of their games and they defend really well," said Boyd, who will play his 97th game for the Broncos on Thursday night.
"They beat South Sydney a couple of weeks ago so they're obviously doing something right.
"Everyone has those bad games and I have no doubt they will be ready for us come Thursday night.
"Teams often bounce back from a flogging like that and everyone loves playing at Suncorp Stadium. Most players these days think that about Suncorp because it's a great place to play football.
"I'm sure the Dragons will be up to it come Thursday night."
