Matt Gillett might be playing a new position but Broncos coach Anthony Seibold says the Queensland and Australian forward's job will hardly change.
In his first NRL game back since a fractured neck ended his season after round five last year, Gillett will shift from his usual spot as Brisbane's right edge forward to lock.
It appears a risky decision to move Gillett to the middle given he established himself as one of the world's best in the second-row.
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But according to Seibold, the only drastic difference for Gillett will be the number he wears.
"If I had have kept him in the number 12 jersey, I don't think anyone would have picked the change," Seibold told reporters.
"Gillo will have a very similar role that he had as an edge back-rower – he is running lead lines and running into space.
"He is an ideal 13 for us at the moment. He adds a great deal of experience to our middles, who are a younger group and still learning.
"To have Gillo as a bit of a rock for that group will be very important for us.
"But the way that he plays will be really similar to when he plays on an edge. I don't think you'll see too much difference."
Gillett has played lock at NRL level before, though not since Brisbane's round 14 win over Canberra in 2014.
He will be greeted in the middle on Thursday night by a fearsome Melbourne forward pack including Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jesse Bromwich.
It's quite a challenge for someone who hasn't played an official first grade fixture in almost a year.
However, Seibold is confident Gillett will physically handle the workload despite his neck problem and off-season shoulder surgery.
Gillett was solid as he eased into the Broncos' trial versus the Gold Coast a week-and-a-half ago and Seibold saw enough signs to believe the 30-year-old is ready to face the Storm.
“Matt is a really good defender individually,” Seibold said.
“He adds a whole heap of work rate to our group.
“What people didn’t see in the trial against the Titans was the effort areas of his game, things like kick pressure and getting to the kick-chase line.
“He is very good with his effort areas and they are the non-talent requirements of our game. He is outstanding in those little areas.”
History is firmly against the Broncos as they attempt to upset the Storm in the season-opener on Thursday night.
As Seibold points out, Melbourne haven't lost a round one match since 2003 – the year Craig Bellamy took the reins as the club's coach.
Seibold knows Bellamy's processes better than most – he was his assistant coach at the Storm in 2015 and '15.
He is all too aware that Melbourne will be "meticulously prepared" but Brisbane's own training efforts have Seibold feeling optimistic.
“We can take confidence in what we have done on the training paddock. I’m a big believer that what you do at training transfers to game day," he said.
"There’s no excuses from our end.”