Champion five-eighth Darren Lockyer may not have played too many more important games of rugby league in his distinguished career.

The immense pressure on Lockyer to get back on the field reared its head on Thursday when the Brisbane captain was given the green light to return from knee soreness against South Sydney on Friday night.

Asked for an interview as he brushed past a throng of curious journalists, the usually accommodating Lockyer said "nope".

It was an indication of just how important Friday night is in the 31-year-old's personal battle to get back on the field and reclaim his world No.1 player tag following a knee reconstruction.

Lockyer obviously has played bigger games; grand finals, Origin deciders and Tests.

He's lined up in 36 Tests for Australia, 27 Origins for Queensland and close to 300 games for the Broncos, but few if any have put him under as much pressure as his Anzac Day moment of truth.

If he's misjudged his comeback, it could have dire consequences for state and country and impact hard on Brisbane's bid to send foundation coach Wayne Bennett off on a memorable note.

Lockyer breezed through training on Thursday, turning in his best run of the season.

He was so impressive that assistant coach Ivan Henjak revealed after training that plans to bring him off the bench had been scrapped.

"He'll start," said Henjak, delivering two words that will bring joy to Broncos fans and Australian selectors who have been sweating on his return from knee soreness.

"Darren is feeling good, he's quite confident on the knee and he wanted to start the game."

Lockyer's desire to start the game and not be eased in off the bench is a good indication the knee is pain free and he has rediscovered some lost confidence.

"Darren's been really keen to get back on the field and he's got a lot of confidence out of the way the knee has responded to rest and he's looking forward to starting," said Henjak.

"I think he's been really missing that."

If Lockyer comes through the match unscathed he'll be the first player chosen on Sunday night to lead Australia against New Zealand in the Centenary Test in Sydney on May 9.

It would be his 37th Test, pulling him one closer to Mal Meninga's record 45.

Henjak said despite being winless, Souths were extremely dangerous rivals who would delight in ending their drought against a top side like Brisbane.

"People might look at the game and say it's an easy win for the Broncos but we're certainly not thinking that way," said Henjak.

"They're going to be desperate and unless we take the game away from them, there's a real chance of us playing them back into form.

"They've got some really good strike players and we've had a good look at them (on video) this morning and they can be a dangerous outfit if we're not ready to play."

Henjak said with the changes coach Jason Taylor has made the Rabbitohs line-up looked the strongest side they'd fielded all year.

"With Issac Luke coming back from injury early it shows how desperate they are and he'll add something to their attack. I think it's the strongest team they've picked all year."

Brisbane will be without fullback Karmichael Hunt and Corey Parker, both sidelined with short-term knee injuries.

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