His last NRL club opted to bring Mat Rogers out of retirement rather than pick him, but Luke Capewell is confident he can replace another veteran pivot next year - Broncos great Darren Lockyer.

Brisbane-bound Capewell, 22, began the year as the man most likely to fill the shoes of dual international Rogers at the Gold Coast Titans.

But by late June, Capewell appeared on the outer as the Gold Coast decided to re-register a 35-year-old Rogers.

It prompted raised eyebrows from Ipswich's co-coach Ben Walker at the time, after Capewell had been on song for the Titans' Queensland Cup feeder club.

Despite a "frustrating" year, Capewell was only concentrating on the huge task that lay ahead after signing with Brisbane for 2012.

The utility has already given up on replacing Josh Hoffman as Broncos fullback next year, and he will have to leapfrog the likes of Ben Hunt and Corey Norman to claim Lockyer's legendary No.6 jersey.

But the ex-Rabbitoh backed himself as the next Broncos five-eighth, with the end suddenly in sight for Lockyer.

"The six spot is open. It's anyone's at the moment. I would love to make it my own," Capewell said.

"I will be pushing with everything I have got to go for it."

Not that the enormity of the task is lost on Capewell.

"It's exciting but it is a bit daunting," he said.

"It's Locky. He's someone I have idolised all my life."

Lockyer will run out in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane's NRL finals clash with the Warriors on Saturday night.

In contrast, the man who hopes to replace him is expected to play the same day in front of a considerably smaller crowd at Cairns' Barlow Park.

Capewell will hope to inspire Ipswich in their Queensland Cup finals clash with Northern Pride.

Capewell had eventually forced his way into the Titans line-up with 15 tries in 11 games for Ipswich and inspiring Queensland Residents' win over NSW in a State of Origin curtain-raiser.

But he finds himself finishing the season with Ipswich after being demoted by the Titans once news broke he had signed a one-year Brisbane deal.

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