New Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has eradicated complacency with surprise selections for the NRL club's final trial, effectively putting all players on notice.
The decision to pick development list player Gehamat Shibasaki at left centre over last year's leading try scorer for the club, Deine Mariner, has raised eyebrows.
Workhorse Jack Gosiewski will line up against Canterbury in Redcliffe on Saturday night in the second-row, also on the left, in preference to young gun Brendan Piakura.
Shibasaki and Gosiewski also started in last week's trial against Gold Coast, a 50-12 win.
Maguire has not chosen the duo for fun. They could both run out in the round one clash with Sydney Roosters on March 6.
"Yes, definitely," Maguire said.
"I said when I arrived that if you perform and do the things that the team wants, and not to say the others aren't, that you are going to get an opportunity.
"Everyone had a clean slate to start with. Leading into round one this is a really important performance."
There is a sense that Maguire is giving certain players a wake-up call after the Broncos finished 12th last year.
He clearly rates 30-year-old journeyman Gosiewski, who he gave an NRL debut to at South Sydney.
"He is very consistent in what he does, defensively he is strong and he knows his role in the team," Maguire said.
"I like the things he has been doing and I had a bit to do with Jack some time ago. I know what he is capable of, so he's got an opportunity on the edge."
Shibasaki, 27, made his debut for the Broncos back in 2018. He is back at Red Hill on a development contract and scored a try last week.
Development list players can now play NRL at any time of the season.
"I said it was about performing at training and Gem has done a great job. He has been around first grade before and is not a pup," Maguire said.
"He's got a bit of game experience under his belt and credit to him he has got himself really fit and performing at training so I've given him an opportunity."
Mariner and Piakura, both on the bench against the Bulldogs, are still very much in the frame for round one and Maguire is keen to see them fire in attack and defence.
For the first time, Maguire will roll out Kobe Hetherington at lock and Pat Carrigan in his switch to prop. It is a combination the coach indicated he would persevere with.
"You guys have talked about that a fair bit but it is obviously what I am keen to have a look at. We will test it this week," Maguire said.
"Having Pat, Payne Haas and Kobe there it is a strong middle.
"I have watched (Carrigan) for a long time and he has played at the highest level - Origin and internationals.
"With Payne, a great player himself, I think it is a really good combination. The middles do play a certain different role and our style of how we are going to play will suit Patty."
