Broncos second-rower Matt Gillett has admitted the side has a mental hurdle to overcome if they're to beat the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
The Cowboys have won three of the last four games between the teams, coming from behind in all three instances – including in the 2015 grand final.
Gillett spoke about the demons associated with losing matches from winning positions, and how the Broncos needed to maintain the intensity for the 80 minutes on Friday.
"We've had some leads against them and they've always managed to come back into it," Gillett said.
"That plays on the back of your mind a bit. You think you're getting away in the game but then they turn it around.
"You have to play the full 80 minutes or even longer if it goes to extra-time. It's about mindset."
Cowboys captain Matt Scott is confident the Cowboys' experience in tight finishes will serve them well if it comes down to it at the Cauldron.
"It's always a big game on our calendar and I think it's even bigger after the last couple of years," Scott said.
"They're typically tight contests because we both seem to play our best footy against each other so two quality teams playing to their potential so you get a close score."
"We've had a little bit of practice over the years… on how to finish those off so hopefully if it comes down to the wire we can do it again."
Scott is also expecting the game to be played at a similarly frenetic pace to the last four clashes between the teams.
"It will be right up there with Origin or finals-like intensity… we both seem to lift against each other. There's a fair bit of rivalry there now and they're always tight, tough contests," he said.
Cowboys coach Paul Green is confident that his players have prepared well throughout the week, and that the expectation that comes along with big games is a help, not a hindrance.
"Games like these are the easy ones to prepare for, because you know it's going to be a big game and everyone gets excited about that," Green said.
"They're the ones you want to be playing in, in front of a big crowd.
"You've got to embrace the atmosphere, you don't want to play your game before you get to it. It's important we build up though the week, but the week has been good so far training-wise."
Green also spoke about the mutual respect between the teams that leads to such fast-paced, entertaining football.
"A lot of them have played together at representative level and I think there's a great rivalry there but there's also that mutual respect and I think that's what makes the rivalry so good," he said. "The games are played in the right spirit."
