League: Pressure off for returning Bronco

Justin Hodges.

Justin Hodges won't be burdened with his co-captaincy duties in his delayed NRL season start for Brisbane tonight.

Coach Anthony Griffin declared Hodges would definitely make his return from a snapped Achilles tendon against Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium after he completed training yesterday.

However, Griffin has instructed the test and Queensland centre to focus purely on his own positional role. Hodges hasn't played since being named the Broncos' co-captain with Corey Parker when Sam Thaiday was stripped of the leadership in the pre-season.

Griffin said little attention had been given to dividing up the on-field captaincy duties as he eased the 31-year-old back into NRL action.

"There's not a great deal of focus on that at the moment," the coach said. "He just needs to concentrate on himself at the moment, and get himself through. ... he's just got to make his tackles and do his job."

Hodges snapped his Achilles tendon against St George Illawarra last August - the second time he has suffered the injury.

Queensland front-rower Ben Hannant is set to make his return from a hamstring injury against a much improved Eels side.

Griffin is extremely wary of a dangerous backline that contains Jarryd Hayne, a revitalised Chris Sandow, Will Hopoate and demolition man Sam Radradra on the left wing.

Part of Parramatta's improvement has been the addition of former Broncos utility Corey Norman at five-eighth.