Brisbane coach Anthony Seibold has called on Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai Jnr to expose Parramatta’s vulnerable centre as the sides tussle for a top-eight spot on Saturday.

The Eels (26) have conceded 11 more tries than any other NRL team through their centre channel this season.

Seibold said the Broncos started drifting sideways in last round’s loss to Gold Coast and has urged his big men to straighten up at Bankwest Stadium.

Seibold hailed the leadership and form of Lodge, whom he says deserved to be in the frame for a NSW State of Origin call-up next week.

But he also put it on the leader of the Broncos’ pack to set the tone on the road this weekend.

“We need to be more direct anyway; we fell in the trap last week of going too sideways,” the coach said.

“It starts with our middle forwards – Tevita, Payne Hass, Lodgey – they’ve got to run hard and run hard first.

“That’s what our weapon is … we’ve got the fastest play the balls in the competition, then we bring (halves) Milly (Anthony Milford) and Sean O’Sullivan into the game.”

The Broncos are ninth and the Eels eighth, but both have 12 points and are separated by just one point in for-and-against.

They are two of five teams on 12 points spread either side of the top-eight line.

“Really closely matched, they’ve been very strong at their home ground and … it’s a big game in the context of our season,” Seibold said.