Brisbane are likely to gamble on the fitness of halfback Peter Wallace against Penrith on Sunday after coach Ivan Henjak's admission he was being nursed through to game day, a practice that could continue for the rest of the NRL season.

The former NSW Origin halfback, who returned from injury last weekend with a strong performance against Cronulla, is battling a niggling hamstring problem.

Henjak took him out of the game in the second half last when Brisbane were well on top.

He has had a very light week at training in the lead-up to the vital clash with his former club.

Youngster Ben Hunt ran with the side on Saturday as a precaution but as long as Wallace, who had his hamstring padded, pulls up free of pain, he will line-up at halfback on Sunday in a must-win game for a Broncos side that can't afford another loss.

"It's been a management thing with Pete and it probably will be for the rest of the year," said Henjak after Brisbane had to battle with officials to get onto Suncorp Stadium for a light training run on Saturday.

"The important thing for us now is that he makes it to game day, not training.

"He did have a tear but we're hoping it's healed and we don't want to risk that again."

Henjak also hit out at claims representative fullback Karmichael Hunt's form had dropped off since his shock AFL announcement late last month.

Hunt was criticised for a having a "secret" kick around to show Gold Coast FC coach Guy McKenna his style last week.

Henjak said he was more than happy with Hunt's contribution against Cronulla last week and was confident his focus was still on the Broncos.

"I thought he had some nice touches against the Sharks and was getting back in the groove of his ball playing out the back," said Henjak, who felt the team had derived a lot of confidence from the win over the Sharks.

"With another week of training under his belt with the rest of the players after Origin it's only going to help him.

"Sunday afternoon, a good crowd, fine conditions all conducive to good open footy and that's when K (Hunt) is at his best."

Henjak warned the Panthers had plenty of their own strike power in lightning centre Michael Jennings, forwards Frank Pritchard, Trent Waterhouse, Luke Lewis, and nippy fullback Jarrod Sammut.

"They've got plenty of guns of their own and we have to look to limit their opportunities as much as we can," he said.

The Panthers, who are fifth on 25 points, could surrender their place in the top eight if they lose to Brisbane (10th on 24 points).

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