Retiring prop Petero Civoniceva insists Brisbane are playing good enough football to cause some finals damage despite losing their past six NRL games.

The Broncos still have the opportunity of locking in a top eight spot despite their wretched recent run, a win over Penrith at Suncorp Stadium on Friday ensuring they’ll see some finals action.

“We had a few results fall our way at the weekend but we’re still desperate for the two points to survive into the finals,” Civoniceva said.

“We’re not getting the results or coming away with the points but we’re definitely playing a standard of football that is up there.”

Civoniceva knows plenty about the Broncos’ foes on Friday, having spent four years at the foot of the mountains between 2008-11 before returning to Brisbane for a final year.

The Panthers have had a horrid season themselves, only just avoiding the wooden spoon – but Civoniceva said his former club would be up to the task, having shown some improved form in beating the Gold Coast last round.

“I know the mentality of the Penrith boys and they’ll be coming up here no doubt to try and spoil the party after knocking off the Titans,” Civoniceva said.

“They’ll see this as a good way to end their season.”

The veteran prop, who has played more State of Origins and Tests than any other player, admitted he hadn’t given much thought to how he’d feel if the Panthers sprung an upset and his career ended on Friday night.

“We have control of our destiny and what’s meant to be is meant to be,” he said.

“If we survive we’ll look to the following week.

“If it’s to end, that’s the way football is. It can be good and it can be cruel at times.”

Coach Anthony Griffin will give Civoniceva the respect of starting him on Friday and could make several positional changes with Josh Hoffman returning to fullback, Corey Norman to five-eighth and Dale Copley back from injury for the clash with Penrith.

Civoniceva, whose book “Petero – My Story” Civoniceva will soon be released, was asked if there could be one final chapter to add with Brisbane still in the premiership hunt.

He smiled and said: “It would be nice, but I don’t dare to dream.”

Fans on Friday will be allowed onto Suncorp Stadium after the game just as they were last year to share in Darren Lockyer’s retirement.