Nine's expert tipsters are backing the Dolphins to pile on the pain for a Broncos side that has had a turbulent week despite an outstanding win against the Storm last Friday night.
The Broncos are reeling after it emerged that the club had decided to wipe Gorden Tallis' name from their centre of excellence, then assistant coach Ben Te'o quit after a clash with head coach Michael Maguire.
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It sets the scene for a bright spotlight to shine on Suncorp Stadium on Friday night for the latest instalment in the burgeoning rivalry between the two Brisbane clubs, with the Dolphins flying in fifth place after thumping the Sharks in round three.
Despite Brisbane's outstanding come-from-behind victory on the road in Melbourne, tipsters expect the Dolphins to continue their hot start to the season, with Payne Haas' absence considered a significant hurdle for Maguire's men in their bid to finish the weekend at 2-2.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth's Tips, Fittler said Haas' absence would give the Dolphins an opportunity to win the forward battle, calling for back-rowers Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Connelly Lemuelu to punish the Broncos' edges.
"I reckon their back row, it's an important week, Lemuelu and Finefeuiaki, these are blokes who have sort of come in, bit injured, haven't sort of played consistently, I feel like now's their time, they're both absolute weapons," Fittler said.
"I think without Payne Haas, Brisbane don't get as far down the field, so I reckon back-rowers, (prop Tom) Flegler's back as well … it'll be (Tom) Gilbert, Flegler, they've got plenty of starch and then (Felise) Kaufusi as well.
"They have plenty of ammunition, the Dolphins, and I'm going to back them."
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While Fittler outlined the forward battle between the Broncos and Dolphins as match defining, Andrew Johns is so enamoured with the backline marshalled by Isaiya Katoa that he would expect parity up front to deliver the points to Kristian Woolf's team.
"Dolphins have got the best backline in the competition," Johns said.
Katoa delivered one of the best long passes you could wish to see in the Dolphins' 38-10 rout of the Sharks last weekend, firing a left-to-right rainbow pass 30 metres and onto the chest of unmarked winger Jamayne Isaako, who strolled in for a try.
The young halfback has been in superb form this season, igniting the star-studded backline on the way to 86 points from three matches at an average of 29 points per game.
The Broncos, by contrast, have scored just 50 points from their three matches, although they looked close to the top of their game in the win over the Storm, with Ben Hunt pulling the strings in Adam Reynolds' absence and Reece Walsh coming to life.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports' QLDER this week, Sam Thaiday agreed that Walsh was unlocked when Hunt was creating space with his running game.
"Maybe it's that cool, calmness of Hunty, that dingo, bush kid, just really laid back (attitude) maybe helps Walshy in the way he plays," the former Origin forward said.
The Broncos clash with the Dolphins at 8pm on Friday night (AEDT).
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