Brisbane head to Auckland this week with specialist hit men Ben Te’o and Matt Gillett reunited on the bench as the Broncos prepare to meet the Warriors’ renowned physical aggression head on.

Te’o, who’s still negotiating his future with the Broncos, makes a timely return on Saturday from a two-game suspension for a mistimed shoulder charge.

But the man who floored Wests Tiger prop Matt Groat has not been ordered by coach Anthony Griffin to ditch his torpedo-style technique.

Gillett, considered by many a certainty to make his State of Origin debut for Queensland next month, also likes to launch himself like a missile at rivals.

It’s a tactic which can either give teammates a huge lift or create serious defensive problems when it goes wrong – as Te’o discovered when he smashed Groat last month.

“I haven’t spoken to him (Te’o) about it, I think the process he went through and having to sit some time out might correct that,” said Griffin.

Gillett and Te’o would be starters in most NRL sides but Brisbane’s back-row of Sam Thaiday, Alex Glenn and Corey Parker is arguably the best in the NRL and will keep them on the bench.

Griffin said Brisbane didn’t need any reminders about the threat posed by creative young Kiwi half Shaun Johnson who produced a long-range try against them at Suncorp Stadium last season.

“We got that first hand last year,” said Griffin.

“Those few tries he scored against us last year leave a real big imprint in your brain about how good he his.”

After quitting training twice on Monday for treatment on his lower back, skipper Sam Thaiday completed ball work on Tuesday.

“The skipper was out their (training) today but we didn’t make him do any contact,” said Griffin.

Star centre Justin Hodges also trained with some strapping on his corked knee which he ripped off early in the session.

“That cork is still a bit tender so we kept him out of any contact,” said Griffin.

“There’s no doubt about Sam or Hodgo, they’ll both play.”

Griffin said the Warriors, who contested last year’s grand final, had stretched an unbeaten Melbourne the previous weekend and had enjoyed 11 days in which to prepare to play Brisbane.

“Against Melbourne they looked like they were going to win that game even without their halfback (Johnson) with 10 or 12 minutes to go.

“They’re a serious football team.

“They can bring on blokes like (Ben) Matulino and Feleti Mateo and they’re very hard to shut down.

“Mateo has got great footwork and ball skills and he’s very dangerous and difficult to sit down.”