Rookie Brisbane centre Jack Reed faces a daunting NRL debut trying to nullify the one redeeming feature of North Queensland's dismal 2010 - a lethal left-side attack.

As bad as the Cowboys were in 2010, their three-pronged assault of Johnathan Thurston, Willie Tonga and edge forward Scott Bolton was still formidable.

Reed's positional play needs to be flawless against a slick customer like Tonga whose slippery footwork has made seasoned NRL players look foolish.

But Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin is confident 22-year-old Reed, who played all 25 games including the grand final for Brisbane North last season, scoring 18 tries, would not be overawed making his debut at Suncorp Stadium in front of 45,000 people.

Tonga isn't the only one who knows his way to the try line, Reed having scored six tries in a Colts match a few years ago.

"Jack Reed is a pretty cool customer. He's handled everything we've thrown at him to this point and he's got Locky (captain Darren Lockyer) and Jharal (Yow Yeh) around him who've been together a while," said Griffin, under pressure himself to perform in his first official outing as coach.

"He's following a similar path to Matt Gillett playing junior rep and then playing in the state league through Norths and he's from Bribie Island like Matt."

Cowboys coach Neil Henry has an opinion of Reed and young wing sensation Dane Gagai, making his debut on the back of a sparkling half of a trial game.

"He (Reed) has sort of come from nowhere, a bit like Matt Gillett," said Henry.

"He actually played down in Canberra so I know him from his days down there.

"He's raw, enthusiastic and strong carrying the ball."

Henry said there was a chance the big occasion could get to him.

"It's all a bit new to him though playing in front of 45,000 people and marking Willie Tonga - I'd expect Willie to be looking forward to that challenge."

Henry said Gagai, who'll partner centre Gerard Beale on Brisbane's left side, impressed him.

"I saw his form in the (trial) game they played against the Melbourne Storm at Redcliffe and he was outstanding," he said.

"He got over for a try and made a number of incisive runs.

"He's a danger with the ball in hand, that's for sure.

Griffin returned the compliment, praising young Cowboys five-eighth Ray Thompson who along with Thurston will have a big impact on the result.

"How we go in the game will depend a lot on how we handle Thurston, he's one of the best players in the world and he can beat you on his own if you're not ready," said Griffin.

"The other young fella (Thompson), I've seen a lot of him in the 20s and state league and we're doing our homework on him as well."

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