Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin paid a glowing tribute to Corey Parker who will line up in his 250th game for the Broncos against the Gold Coast on Friday night in some of the best form of his NRL career.

The 30-year-old goal-kicking lock will become the sixth Bronco after Darren Lockyer (366), Michael Hancock (297), Allan Langer (288), Andrew Gee (279) and Shane Webcke (263) to reach the milestone.

Parker, who scored a try in his first game for the Broncos in 2001, started his career in the front row but is now firmly established as the side’s starting lock as an 80-minute a game player.

“Corey is a real pro and extremely diligent in all his habits,” said Griffin on Thursday.

“He’s very diligent with his training habits, his rehab, his diet.

“He’s very mentally tough, he can play with injuries and he recovers from injuries quicker.

“He turns four week injuries into two and he turned bumps that might keep other players out into something he can carry.

“His mental toughness is one of his great assets.”

Some of that was evident after Parker suffered a nasty gash that opened his shin to the bone playing for Queensland in the second State of Origin game in June.

Despite medical opinion he would certainly miss the third Origin game he made a stunning recovery to secure his place in the series’ decider.

Griffin said Brisbane expected to confront a Titans side with a do-or-die attitude at Skilled Park on Friday night.

Despite reports Greg Bird (pectoral muscle) would not take the field Griffin said Brisbane had trained expecting the NSW Origin hit man to play.

Young winger Lachlan Maranta will play his third game for the Broncos on the wing for the injured Dale Copley and Griffin said he expected the Titans to test the youngster out.