Hoping to avoid more unwanted history, Brisbane’s faltering engine will receive a timely tune-up with Payne Haas’ NRL return.

Haas has relished his time back at Red Hill after the death of his brother, just as interim coach Peter Gentle will rely on his presence against Penrith.

The powerhouse prop missed the last two NRL games through suspension, while he also dealt with the loss of brother Chace, a ventilated quadriplegic after a car crash as a child.

Never have Brisbane lost eight consecutive regular season games but they’ll have to end the Panthers’ 11-game winning streak to avoid that milestone at Suncorp Stadiumon Thursday night.

A loss would also open the door for Canterbury to jump ahead of them and push the Broncos to the bottom of the ladder, where they have never finished and never occupied this late in the season.

Brisbane were thumped 58-12 last week but the return of Haas, Corey Oates and Issac Luke is fuelling Gentle’s optimism.

“They have all played big games those three boys and we are desperately lacking that at the moment so it is very welcome to have them back,” he said.

“He’s (Haas) going great, he came in last week, was desperate to get back in and all his own choice.

“We said do what you need to do but he’s spent every day in here but he’s got a lot of friends here, a lot of mates.”

Penrith too will use Kurt Capewell’s comeback from a knee injury to refocus ahead of the finals.

“He’s missed a lot of the good times sitting in the background working hard on his rehab,” coach Ivan Cleary said.

“Similar to Brian To’o, who came back last week, it’s good to get new faces and fresh energy and good players.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way we’re going. But it’s about the destination, we’ve got to keep going with that.”