Brisbane captain Darren Lockyer says he'll return and play with pain against the aggressive and physical Warriors if he can get through training next week.

Doubts have been expressed about whether the 33-year-old Lockyer can play again this NRL season because of his rib cartilage injury.

But the gritty Lockyer has given a clear indication he intends to return to boost the Broncos' finals bid in their second last game of the regular season against the Warriors in Auckland next Friday night.

The Broncos suffered a big home loss to Parramatta in their injured captain's absence last week, slipped perilously to eighth on the ladder.

If he plays in Auckland it will be with a protective guard, his ribs strapped and possibly an injection.

"We've trialled a few things at training with strapping," Lockyer told the Nine Network's Footy Show.

"I'll do a bit of contact work next week and if I can handle most things I'll take the field next week."

The playmaker said the injury he suffered against the Cowboys two weeks ago "hasn't been too painful" since.

"I haven't done much the last couple of weeks because the doctor told me to go away and take it easy and hope that it settles down.

"It might be a different ball game if I happen to get twisted in a tackle, I could be in some pain then.

"I'll just have to play with a bit of pain the next couple of weeks."

Lockyer battled a similar rib injury on Australia's tour of the UK in France in 2004, the year he took over the Australian captaincy.

He played his first game in a month when he came off the bench against France and laid on three tries in the final five minutes as the Kangaroos came from 16-6 down to win 52-30.

Brisbane will be hoping he can come to their rescue in time to help lift them into a 19th straight NRL finals campaign.

Meanwhile Lockyer handed rookie Matt Gillett a big compliment by declaring the 22 year-old utility the find of the 2010 NRL season.

Gillett filled in for Lockyer at five-eighth last week but youngster Corey Norman will fill the role this weekend against Newcastle.

"He (Gillett) has been great, he's played on the wing, he's played in the back-row, centres and he played five-eighth last week," said Lockyer.

"He's done a good job every week but there's a lot of good young kids coming through and the future of the Broncos is in good hands."

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