Lock Josh McGuire says Brisbane are preparing to play Friday night’s NRL semi-final against Penrith without their inspirational skipper Darius Boyd.

Fullback Boyd is racing the clock to recover from a hamstring complaint that forced him to miss last week’s qualifying final loss to the Sydney Roosters.

“If he plays it is a massive bonus but we are preparing without him. We just need to get the 17 that are named ready,” said McGuire before the Broncos team was named on Tuesday afternoon.

“He (Boyd) is our captain but we are confident in the guys to get the job done.”

Boyd was again restricted to light duties along with forward Tevita Pangai Junior (hamstring) at Broncos training on Tuesday.

Veteran forward Sam Thaiday kept the door ajar for Boyd’s return in the sudden-death clash.

“The physio has been doing everything they can. Darius was doing a bit more running today,” Thaiday said.

“A player like him I am sure Wayne (Bennett) will give him until the last minute.”

Asked if it would be a risk to roll the dice with Boyd’s injury, Thaiday said: “That’s a great question but I am not a physio.”

Thaiday said whether Boyd was fit or not, Brisbane had to “play like there is no tomorrow” against Penrith, something he believed they did not do against the Roosters.

“We were playing as if we had a second chance and now there aren’t any more,” he said.

“We need to get out there with that in mind.”