Wayne Bennett has rated Brisbane's forwards as the best he has ever seen at the Broncos before Sunday's NRL clash with Gold Coast.
But the veteran coach reckons gun Brisbane back-rowers Joe Ofahengaue and Jaydn Su'A are still not ready for State of Origin.
Ofahengaue and Su'A were in the Queensland mix for Wednesday's Origin III in Brisbane, with selectors expected to blood new faces with an eye to the future in the dead rubber.
The pair were overlooked and instead will be unleashed by Bennett in their derby as the eighth-placed Broncos look to further climb up the NRL ladder.
Bennett said Ofahengaue and Su'A were already knocking on the Maroons door but believed they were another year away from being Origin material.
"I would probably say in another 12 months they will be knocking on the door," Bennett said.
"They are probably knocking on the door now and they certainly have the quality.
"(But) they just need to play a bit more NRL, be more competent and they will be able to handle that pressure that comes with Origin."
Asked if the Maroons missed a trick by not blooding the Broncos pair in the dead rubber, Bennett said: "We all have different points of view on that.
"Either way I am not concerned, I am just pleased they are playing for us tomorrow."
Ofahengaue and Su'A chime into a formidable Broncos pack which boasts fellow season standout Tevita Pangai and prop Matt Lodge.
Asked if he had ever seen a more talented group of Broncos forwards come through, Bennett said: "Probably not at the Broncos.
"We have a team for the present but we also have a group of men here for the future.
"It's important for us to hold on to them now, with Sam (Thaiday) retiring (at season's end).
"Lodge is 23, Tevita is 22, Joe Ofahengaue is 22. Hopefully they will be the future of the Broncos pack for some time to come - we are in a pretty good position in that way."
Brisbane are six points clear of ninth-placed Canberra and will have their sights set on the top four with just six points separating the eight.
Brisbane's Jake Turpin will make his NRL debut after being named at hooker for Andrew McCullough (Queensland duty).
STATS THAT MATTER
* The Titans will be aiming to win consecutive games against Brisbane for the first time.
* All nine of the Broncos' wins this season have been by nine points or less, including six by four or less.
* The Broncos have won 15 of the past 18 matches against the Titans.
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