Alarm bells are ringing at the Broncos over Cowboys five-eighth Johnathan Thurston’s magical combination with fullback Matt Bowen.

But retiring Brisbane inspiration Petero Civoniceva had two other names on his mind ahead of Saturday night’s NRL elimination final in Townsville.

Broncos veteran Justin Hodges admitted on Tuesday that he had never seen Thurston and Bowen form a more deadly partnership ahead of the 2012 premiership hunt.

However, Civoniceva said he was more worried about a duo that he believed was the best in the business – Queensland teammate Matt Scott and his front-row partner James Tamou, of NSW State of Origin fame.

“He is a great front-rower, definitely the best in our game at the moment,” Civoniceva said of Cowboys co-captain Scott on Tuesday.

“For us as a forward pack that is where the challenge is, being able to stop their momentum.

“You don’t get two better exponents than Matty Scott and James Tamou.

“I feel privileged that I had the opportunity to have played alongside him (Scott in Origin).

“For myself and Ben Hannant that first 20 minutes is going to be the key – we look forward to it.”

After a surprised media pack absorbed the news that Civoniceva ranked Scott as the world’s No.1 prop, the big Broncos bruiser was quickly asked how he ranked Tamou.

“He is pretty close behind him,” Civoniceva laughed.

“What he gives in terms of momentum and his versatility, he is going to be hard to contain.”

Civoniceva warmed to the fact that another prop could dominate the headlines ahead of their sudden death clash in Townsville after Brisbane booked a finals berth with a last round 19-12 win over lowly Penrith.

“I guess I was sick of seeing myself in the papers and hearing about it – but the result for the team was the most important aspect of the night,” he said.

The underdog tag does not usually sit well with glamour club Brisbane – especially ahead of a game against little brother North Queensland in Townsville where they have won 14 of 18 games.

But Civoniceva was the first to dip his hat to their usually-unheralded Queensland cousins.

“You take your hat off the way the Cowboys have played, they have been tremendous all season,” he said.

“No doubt the last few weeks they are looking in very good form. It is going to take a huge effort definitely for us to shut down their key men.

“We are going up there knowing we have a challenge on our hands.”

As much as Hodges backed Civoniceva’s calls, the veteran centre only had eyes on two players.

“This is pretty much the best I have seen them together,” Hodges said of Thurston and Bowen’s electric combination.

“If you give them a sniff they will take everything away from you.

“You sit back and love watching them. But hopefully they don’t do it this week.”