Wayne Bennett has resisted the temptation to unleash off season recruit Benji Marshall in Brisbane’s blockbuster NRL derby against North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.

The former New Zealand international looked poised to make a surprise Broncos debut off the bench after training strongly with the main group on Thursday.

However Bennett confirmed Marshall would only play in the second tier Queensland Cup for Redcliffe this weekend.

“He can’t make the squad at the moment – we are going with the same bench as last week,” Bennett said.

Marshall looked set to take up a bench vacancy created by Alex Glenn who suffered concussion in Brisbane’s season opening win over Cronulla.

But Bennett was confident Glenn would pass the relevant tests to take his place in the round two clash.

The master coach also gave the thumbs up for re-signed lock Josh McGuire and ex-Cowboys centre Tautau Moga.

McGuire failed to train on Tuesday but impressed on Thursday, still buzzing from signing a new four year deal.

Bennett played down a health scare that forced Moga off the training paddock on Sunday.

The hulking centre will run out against his former club after showing no ill effects at Thursday training.