VENUE & TIME: Skilled Park, Friday July 31, 7.35pm (AEST).
COVERAGE: Channel 9
LAST TIME: Titans 14 - Cowboys 10 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Round 5, 2009
WALKING WOUNDED: Titans' co-captain Luke Bailey moves back for a rare appearance in the second-row this week to compensate for the loss of back-rowers Anthony Laffranchi (suspension) and Ashley Harrison (ribs). Big Matt White fills Bailey's spot up front, while Brad Meyers slots into the unfamiliar lock position. Hooker Nathan Friend (ankle) and second-rower Mark Minichiello (knee) have both been named despite leaving the field early last week. Mat Rogers (groin) remains on the sidelines for another week.
The Cowboys remain largely intact for this clash with Anthony Watts returning from suspension at hooker, forcing Travis Burns back to a six-man bench. They will again be without regular No. 9 Aaron Payne (shoulder - season), centre Ashley Graham (knee) and state back-rower Luke O'Donnell (knee), who could make a return next week.
FORM: The Titans were near-perfect for three-quarters of their match against an injury-ravaged Broncos last Friday night as they raced to a 34-2 lead before dropping their guard late in the game. Coach John Cartwright labeled his team's opening 40 minutes as "good as we've put together all season". It was the perfect response to their disappointing Round 19 loss to the Bulldogs and a result that pushes them four-points clear of the fifth-placed team (Manly).
While the Titans are consolidating their position in the top-four, their northern cousins, the Cowboys, are struggling to maintain their top-eight standing. Neil Henry's men missed twice as many tackles as the Panthers last Saturday night to go down by eight points in a result that saw the mountain men leapfrog the Cowboys on the ladder. Many in the know were expecting North Queensland to struggle without Aaron Payne's smarts out of dummy-half and the previous two weeks have done little to disprove those suggestions.
WHO'S HOT: Titans' co-skipper Scott Prince returned to his best form against the Broncos on Friday night, setting up the team's first four tries of the match. Missing out on a QLD Origin berth this year was a bitter blow for the man many regard as the second best No. 7 in the game, but that would all be forgotten if he could successfully guide the Titans through their first ever finals campaign.
WE THINK: The Cowboys will need a massive effort from distracted skipper Johnathan Thurston if they are going to sneak in a vital win here. Statistics suggest they are next to no hope, losing their previous seven Friday night matches and six of eight away games this season. Of course we cannot forget the big one - the Titans' unbeaten home record in 2009. Unfortunately for the visitors, Thurston has looked as flat as a tack since Origin III and with rumours circulating of a heated verbal exchange with the coach, only the brave could back the fragile ship from the far north in this one. Titans by 12.
TEAMS:
Gold Coast Titans:
William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Esi Tonga, Brett Delaney, David Mead, Preston Campbell, Scott Prince (capt), Matthew White, Nathan Friend, Michael Henderson, Luke Bailey (capt), Mark Minichiello, Brad Meyers. Interchange: Aaron Cannings, Will Matthews, Josh Graham, Kayne Lawton.
North QLD Cowboys:
Matthew Bowen, Michael Bani, Ty Williams, Willie Tonga, John Williams, Grant Rovelli, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Shane Tronc, Anthony Watts, Matthew Scott, Carl Webb, Scott Bolton, Steve Southern. Interchange: Travis Burns, Steve Rapira, Antonio Kaufusi, James Tamou, Manase Manuokafoa, Dayne Weston (two to be omitted).
Referees: Tony Archer & Ashley Klein