OUT-of-sorts prop David Taylor remains without a contract for next season after yesterday missing Brisbane's NRL side for a fourth successive week.

Taylor's manager Col Davis last night quashed reports the 20-year-old had already agreed to terms with South Sydney on a three-year deal.

Negotiations with both the Broncos and Rabbitohs remain stalled as Taylor continues to languish with state league side Central Comets.

Davis said it had been more than a fortnight since he had been in contact with South Sydney, who have previously tabled tentative two and three-year offers, believing Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson to be currently on holidays.

"You can hold a gun to my head and I'll tell you it hasn't happened, it's not correct," Davis said. "Sooner or later I will sit down with Dave and work out whether he wants to stay and keep copping bitter pills or go somewhere else.

"The first question that needs to be asked is if he wants to stay at the Broncos or go somewhere else. They (Rabbitohs and Broncos) are the two major players at present but everything is still sitting in the manilla folder."

Broncos coach Ivan Henjak yesterday declared he would not be railroaded into picking the out-of-favour enforcer in first grade in order to secure his signature.

"For me that is not an issue, I am picking the team on form and on who I think can get the job done," Henjak said.

"If it affects negotiations then so be it, the most important thing for us is the game we have on the weekend.

"Dave is going OK in Queensland Cup, but he has some targets he has to reach. He is nearly there and he will start to be considered for the NRL. He isn't kicking cans. His attitude is good. He is doing extra work, which we need him to do and he is doing everything possible to get back in the team.

"He is at least putting himself in the picture."

Entering Friday night's derby against the Titans on the back of successive defeats, Henjak said he expected his men to lift for the occasion.

"It is a challenge for everyone at the club," Henjak said. "For the first time we are feeling a little bit of pressure about getting a result and we are coming into a period that is generally very hard for us and it would be good to put another two points in the bank.

"The atmosphere and the crowd and the build-up to the week, the players will know it's a bit of a different game.

"But they look forward to it. There has been some real crackers between the clubs and it has built up a bit of a tradition in its short history. I'm sure both teams will be ready to play.

"You certainly don't need any help to focus the players, but in saying that we're coming off two losses so I'd expect them to be as focused as they'd ever be."

Broncos hooker Aaron Gorrell has been ruled out with a shoulder injury while Karmichael Hunt (thigh) and Justin Hodges (hamstring) remain in doubt.