Brisbane will use lessons learned from Rooster Todd Carney's carve-up job on Monday to limit the potential damage Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward could inflict on them at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

Brisbane's defence didn't adjust to Carney's running game until too late and Soward, enjoying his best NRL season, is not dissimilar to the Roosters' No.6 in the way he runs the ball across the face of the defence.

"Carney did a good job on us on Monday night and I'd be hoping we do a better job on Jamie," said Lockyer on Thursday.

"If you give them opportunities, Jamie's a guy who can make you pay."

Coach Ivan Henjak agreed, saying Soward liked to hurt teams with second phase plays when the opposition's defence was a bit disorganised.

"He's probably not the runner Carney is but he is very dangerous if you let him run too much," said Henjak who'll use rookie Matt Gillett in the back-row for injured forward Ben T'eo (foot).

Lockyer said points were always tough to come by against the Dragons, even on a lightning fast Suncorp Stadium on a fine Sunday afternoon.

"You basically have to just hang in with them," he said.

"They love getting in the arm wrestle, they don't give you much. You certainly don't want to be chasing points against the Dragons because they're very disciplined with their defence."

Lockyer said while the two points weren't vital for the Dragons they were to Brisbane.

"We're under pressure which is what finals football is all about," he said.

"If we're to be a chance this year we need to stand up this week and play well."

Brisbane leaked 34 points to the Roosters after having improved their defence markedly in the weeks leading up to the match.

Lockyer felt the pats on the back before the game may have gotten to his players against the Roosters.

"All week everyone had been talking about how good our defence was and about our chances this year," said Lockyer.

"I've seen it happen so many times, a team gets talked up and go out and think it's just going to happen.

"We were probably five per cent off where we needed to be which is why we let in so many tries."

Lockyer spoke glowingly about Gillett, who's scored nine tries off the bench for the Broncos.

"He's a football player," said Lockyer.

"He's featured in all our weekly (player) awards, it's an exceptional effort in his first year.

"It's a pretty special talent, some of the things he's done this year."

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