NRL: Brisbane pin hopes on crocked Lockyer making it back

Darren Lockyer. Photo / Getty Images

BRISBANE - Brisbane captain Darren Lockyer is set to step up his bid to return from injury against the Warriors on Friday with his team's National Rugby League finals prospects on a knife edge.

The eighth-placed Broncos need Lockyer back after he popped a rib cartilage when crunched in a tackle by Cowboys forward Luke O'Donnell 17 days ago.

They have lost the past two matches to Parramatta and Newcastle and desperately need to win one, if not both, of their remaining two games, against the Warriors in Auckland and late-charging Canberra at home the next weekend.

There have been conflicting reports about the severity of Lockyer's painful injury and whether he'll be able to get back on the field before the finals, if at all.

Medical opinion is that rib cartilage injuries require between four and six weeks to scar over and heal and there are risks associated with playing before they are fully recovered.

But with Brisbane's hopes of playing in a 19th successive finals series in danger, Lockyer is under pressure to fast-forward his return.

He would play with a protective vest, extensive strapping and possibly the aid of painkillers.

He's been receiving treatment and experimenting with different strapping to help keep the rib cage stable to help the healing process.

While Lockyer's presence would give Brisbane a mental boost, it would not solve the breakdown in defence that has seen Brisbane leak 74 points to the Eels and Newcastle in the past fortnight.

After plugging holes during five straight mid-season wins to go from the NRL's worst defence to its best towards the State of Origin period, Brisbane are again conceding too many points.

It's something they will need to address before Friday night's showdown with the Warriors, who are one place ahead of them in seventh place but with the same plus-seven percentage.

Brisbane were heading for the Sunshine Coast yesterday for a mini camp before flying to Auckland tomorrow afternoon.

They'll have a final training session at Auckland Grammar School on Thursday when a decision could be made on whether Lockyer rolls the dice and plays.

* South Sydney could be without Eddie Pettybourne for Friday night's desperation clash against Parramatta, with the second rower facing a week on the sidelines for a high tackle.

However, St George Illawarra prop Neville Costigan will escape penalty after he was charged with the same grade one offence, and will be on hand to help the Dragons try to secure the minor premiership against Newcastle on Saturday.

Melbourne's Billy Slater was the only other player charged by the match review committee - also for a low grade careless high tackle - but despite carry-over points will be free to tackle the Wests Tigers on Sunday if he takes the early guilty plea.

- AAP