They're Brisbane's Three Amigos and their youth, energy, and versatility might just carry the club to a seventh premiership in October.

Matt Gillett (22), Kiwi Alex Glenn (22) and English-born Jack Reed (22) - a virtual unknown knocking around in the Queensland Cup before his big break this season - have emerged as key players in coach Anthony Griffin's bid to win the NRL title in his rookie year.

Gillett, last year's NRL rookie of the year, scored the match-winning try against Parramatta last start, in his second game back from a long injury break, in an eye-catching performance featuring four tackle breaks and 35 tackles rotating between lock and left centre.

With Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker and four other stars returning from State of Origin duty for Friday night's NRL derby with the last-placed Gold Coast at Suncorp Stadium, Gillett finds himself back on the bench with Glenn keeping his back-row spot and Dunamis Lui on the bench in a 19-man squad.

Griffin said a number of factors contributed to Gillett coming off the bench.

"I'm conscious of two things; one being we made him play 80 minutes against Parramatta and he did a lot of that from the centres which we won't have the luxury of doing from now on," he said.

"With Parker and Thaiday back in the pack and with Scott Anderson going so well, it gives us more depth, more impact and we can share the minutes more.

"Alex (Glenn) has done a great job on that left edge and the way he's led the club through that period (Origin), he's earned his spot there.

"We've got the flexibility with Jack Reed who can play back-row or centre and Gillo on the bench. Those three guys, Jack, Alex and Gillo are interchangeable. It gives us a lot of flexibility there.

"We're fortunate to have those three. They're all really good blokes with great attitudes.

"They'll play where you want them and for how many minutes you want."

Griffin said Brisbane, on 26 points with the Cowboys - four behind Melbourne (30), Manly (28) and St George Illawarra (27) - want to finish minor premiers.

"I'd like to finish number one," he said.

"We haven't set a finishing target but we've got to play the Storm, Manly and the Cowboys, all teams who are ahead of us.

"If we can have some victories there and maintain some consistency, we can get up the ladder."

Griffin said every game is an attitude test, even those against teams anchored on the bottom of the table.

"These guys (Titans) will be very hungry," he said.

"It's a local derby. I'm sure they're thinking if they can roll us on Friday night, it would kickstart the back end of their season."

"If we don't respect them, prepare well and turn up ready to play, we won't win."

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