Broncos v Raiders preview - 2017 Round 3

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A superhero battle between two big contenders.

Suncorp Stadium (or Lang Park to those of us old enough to remember) hasn't been the best place for the green machine in recent years, with just one win from the last nine visits by the Raiders. Both teams will sport a different look ahead of this contest too, with both sides participating in the 'ISC Marvel Heroes' concept and wearing themed jerseys to match.

Brisbane come into the contest at full strength, but having lost their last two clashes to NRL heavyweights North Queensland and Melbourne - the Raiders meanwhile are also one win from three but come in on the back of an emphatic win over a crisis-hit Wests Tigers last Sunday.

That said, it remains to be seen how the men from the nation's capital are tracking this season, after succumbing to the Cowboys in the opening round they were soundly beaten by premiers Cronulla a week later. The Tigers offered little resistance to them last week which could be worrying when facing an outfit with the class of the Broncos.

The home side's losses have been far more admirable - forced into another golden point thriller by their northern counterparts before falling to the Storm in an arm-wrestle down at AAMI Park. Their Round 1 win over Cronulla saw them play some quality football despite poor conditions.

Last meeting: Round 14 2016 - Broncos 26 Raiders 18

This pair have only met once per season since 2013, which is the last time the Raiders jagged a win in this fixture. The Broncos have dominated in the three seasons since.

This will be the fiftieth clash between these two sides - of the 49 played in all competitions so far there's been just one draw with Brisbane dominating 29 wins to 19. Canberra have been to the Brisbane's home 18 times since 1988, coming away winners on just six of those occasions.

Who to watch: There's been plenty written about Anthony Milford this week after a fairly pedestrian effort from the diminutive five-eighth in last Thursday's loss to Melbourne. He has to step up at home if the Broncos are to take control of this contest - something he was much better at in Brisbane's loss to the Cowboys a fortnight ago.

Hulking Junior Paulo was a force to be reckoned with in Sunday's rolicking Raiders win over the Tigers and he'll want to carry that impact into Friday night's clash. The Canberra prop steamrolled through the black-and-gold's paper thin defence and even has a try-assist to his name this season but it will be the metres he makes and space he creates for halves Austin and Sezer that will be important in this contest.

The favourite: Brisbane's home ground advantage has them edging ahead as favourites for this clash.

My tip: The formlines of these two are a bit deceiving in my book and with that in mind it's hard to pass up tipping the Broncos in front of a parochial home crowd. Broncos by 4.

1. Darius Boyd 2. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Tautau Moga 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Ben Hunt 8. Korbin Sims 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Adam Blair 11. Sam Thaiday 12. Matt Gillett 13. Josh Mcguire 14. Alex Glenn 15. Tevita Pangai 16. Herman Essese 17. Jai Arrow

1. Jack Wighton 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Junior Paulo 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Josh Papalii 12. Elliot Whitehead 16. Clay Priest 14. Luke Bateman 14. Adam Clydsdale 15. Iosia Soliola 22. Joseph Tapine

Referees: Ashley Klein, Adam Gee; Sideline Officials: Brett Suttor, Nick Morel; Video Referees: Bernard Sutton, Ben Galea;