Young Brisbane NRL hooker Andrew McCullough concedes he must kick his game up another notch against the best in the business in Melbourne's Cameron Smith on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

Even allowing for Smith backing up 24 hours after playing a Test against New Zealand, McCullough has acknowledged the task against a player, regarded by many as the game's best, is his biggest challenge of the season.

While 27-year-old Smith has played 22 Tests for Australia, 21 Origins for Queensland and almost 200 games for Melbourne, McCullough is only in his third season with Brisbane and has just passed 50 NRL games.

The 21-year-old has been forced to grow up fast in a position of pressure and is still learning.

"You always like to measure yourself against the best players and there's none better than Cameron Smith when you talk about hookers," McCullough told AAP after an inexperienced Brisbane line-up, including rookies Shae Molan, Justin Hunt and Kurt Baptiste, prepared on Thursday.

McCullough had a poor game by his standards recently against Wests Tigers but believed he had worked some things out with the help of coach Anthony Griffin.

"I'm not going to beat myself up about it. It was a bad game but Hook (Griffin) has been pretty happy with me apart from that game," he said.

McCullough had changed his tackling style slightly this season, with Griffin focusing on defenders locking up the ball in tackles.

"There's a lot more locking the ball up, whereas a few years ago, I was being told to tackle around the legs and abdominal area.

"I'm doing what the coach wants and that's the way the game is right now. Every team is doing it.

"Melbourne are the benchmark at doing it. Blokes like Cameron Smith and Michael Ennis, they all tackle like that. It's the way the game has evolved."

McCullough was keen to get his running game happening more.

"I've just got to pick my times better," he said, aware the pressure was on.

"Especially with those (Test) players missing, I have to do more."

McCullough realised he had to be careful not to go too far and overplay his game.

"We've got guys like Wal (Peter Wallace) and Benny Hunt who can score tries or set them up," he said.

"It's exciting, a few blokes could get their debut this week.

"Not too many people are giving us a chance but the guys we've got there can do it. That's why it's such a great club."

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