The gloves are off with NRL heavyweights Brisbane and Melbourne naming sides loaded with internationals for their pre-season showdown on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday night.

Brisbane have decided to trot out champion five-eighth Darren Lockyer despite earlier plans to keep him in cotton wool until the club's NRL season opener against North Queensland on March 13.

Lockyer, who has thrived at training in recent weeks, expressed a desire last week to rid himself of any rust and nerves with a unscheduled hit-out before the season kicks off next month.

Despite playing more than 300 games for Brisbane he still prefers to release any nervous tension and get some timing and confidence under his belt with a trial before the season kicked off.

He'll be reunited with one-time club leading points scorer Michael DeVere, who last played for the Broncos in 2004.

DeVere invited the likes of Billy Slater and Greg Inglis to target him to help him gauge where he is at in his comeback bid.

"I hope plenty of action comes my way because I need it," said DeVere.

Youngster Gerard Beale, one of the many stars of Brisbane's under 20 side last season, has been named as Karmichael Hunt's replacement as the Test custodian recovers from a minor abdominal muscle tear.

And rookie coach Ivan Henjak has stuck with young speedsters Jharal Yow Yeh and Antonio Winterstein on the wings as a reward for strong trial performances against the Gold Coast and Canberra which have boosted their NRL stocks.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy meanwhile delivered on a promise to field his best possible line-up with the likes of Slater, Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson and exciting talents Willie Isa and Will Chambers sure to pack out Stockland Park.

Jeff Lima, Adam Blair, Sika Manu and Wairangi Koopu are all Kiwi internationals, giving the Storm more muscle.

"This is our last trial before the season kicks off so it was always our plan to play our strongest possible side," said Bellamy.

"We think this hit out will put us in good shape for our first game against the Dragons."

There's a real possibility Lockyer could eye-off his Queensland Origin deputy Smith with Bellamy keen to see him play at five-eighth at some stage during the trial.

The spin off from that would be Inglis shifting out to the centres setting up a clash with his former Storm teammate Israel Folau which would be something to witness with both players rated world class.

The two NRL clubs have developed quite a spicy rivalry since Brisbane denied Melbourne a premiership in 2006.

Melbourne gained some revenge by knocking Brisbane out of last year's grand final when Inglis scored a last minute try before the Storm lost to Manly.

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