AFL fans will have to wait until tomorrow night to get their first glimpse of the new Gold Coast stadium when the Suns take on Geelong. But tonight’s attention focuses on a League double header at Lang Park.

The Broncos will line up against Manly before the Titans tackle Canterbury. The Broncos will have to do it the hard way though with a number of origin stars not able to back up.

Rebekah Ison reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Broncos coach Anthony Griffin is standing firm.

He says the team’s Origin stars, Darren Lockyer and Sam Thaiday, will be rested tonight.

But the coach isn’t worried. He says there’s a positive to giving other players a chance to take the field.

Anthony Griffin, Broncos Coach: “If we’re going to be a force this year and going forward we’ve got to have twenty five people who can do the job for us.”

While Lockyer and Thaiday will watch from the stands, their Origin team mates Jahral Yow Yeh and Corey Parker will line up against Manly.

A decision on whether Ben Hannant takes to the paddock will be left to the last minute.

Anthony Griffin, Brisbane Coach: “He seems to overcome that calf injury pretty well and they seem to be pretty happy with him. We just need to make sure there’s no risk there.”

Ben Teo will play for the first time in seven weeks after suffering an arm fracture against Newcastle.

Ben Teo, Brisbane Broncos: “Hook thought it was very important for me to get out there and play. Got some minutes and yeah the confidence of gettin attack, running the ball hard and tackling.”

While tonight will give NRL supporters twice as much to cheer about, the loudest cheers could be coming from AFL supporters. The multi-million dollar Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast will finally come to life tomorrow night.

The match will be the first time former Geelong player Gary Ablett lines up against his old team mates.

Gary Ablett, Gold Coast Suns Captain: “I played football with those guys for nine years. It’ll be good to just get out there and be up against them and I guess test ourselves out.”

While a lot of attention will be focused on how Ablett performs against his former club, the real test will be how the Suns go against the unbeaten league leaders.

Rebekah Ison, QUT News.