Raiders dwarf Sam's BroncsOne pack contains an array of proven representative performers.
The other will wear the yellow and gold of the Brisbane Broncos.
Rarely has the Queensland powerhouse fielded such an inexperienced and raw set of forwards.
It's not an ideal situation when on the other side of the battle lines stands a feared Canberra Raiders pack which has already stamped itself as one of the most imposing frontlines in the NRL.
Apart from Maroons enforcer Sam Thaiday and club stalwart Corey Parker, the Broncos are brimming with youth up front.
Alex Glenn and Matt Gillett are developing back-rowers, Scott Anderson was a bench player in the Melbourne Storm's salary-cap tainted 2009 premiership while Shane Tronc is a journeyman from both the North Queensland Cowboys and the English Super League.
Throw in Ben Te'o and Josh McGuire and there's plenty of potential but question marks over their immediate strikepower.
There's no such worries about the Raiders.
Starting props Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and David Shillington laid a devastating platform which Dane Tilse, Bronson Harrison and Joe Picker carried on from in last week's 40-12 hiding of the Cronulla Sharks.
The only downside is the one-week suspension of front-rower Brett White.
But such is the depth that White's position is filled by the hard-hitting Josh Miller.
Broncos coach Anthony Griffin conceded his side had its hands full slowing down the rampant Raiders forwards.
''We've just got to work very hard as a group, face up to the challenge,'' Griffin said. ''That's a real strength of theirs, something we've got to concentrate on for 80 minutes.
''We've got to get good line speed with our intensity, work very hard on it.
''They're a hard mob to stop.''
The Broncos arrived in Canberra yesterday eager to break a six-year losing drought in the nation's capital.
Four straight losses in the ACT doesn't bode well for a Broncos outfit coming off a season-opening loss to the North Queensland Cowboys.
Most notably was the 56-0 drubbing at Canberra Stadium two years ago.
''It's more credit to the way the Canberra side's been going the past couple years other than us I think,'' Griffin said.
''They've been building up as a side.
''They're a very hard side to beat at home."
''The last few times we've had a few scores put on us the previous two years, last year was a bit closer, but they've just been way too good for us.
''They're a team on the up.''
Griffin said the focus this week had been on improved composure in attack.
He has challenged young hookers Andrew McCullough and Ben Hunt to find some much-need creativity against Canberra tomorrow to take the heat off skipper Darren Lockyer.
While Brisbane's biggest challenge will come from the Raiders' physically imposing pack, led by giant Origin forwards Shillington and Learoyd-Lahrs, Griffin wants more input from his two dummy halves.
McCullough played 38 minutes and made 12 tackles starting last week's loss to North Queensland before Griffin replaced him with Hunt after about 25 minutes.
Hunt made 28 tackles in 42 minutes but missed five tackles in the ruck.
Neither youngster stamped their mark on the game, something Griffin needs them to do to make life easier on his halves. The Broncos are again without two of their key weapons centre Justin Hodges and marquee off-season signing, prop Ben Hannant.
with AAP
Source: The Canberra Times
Topic: Raiders dwarf Sam's Broncs
