Tevaga brought onto bench, Nikorima moved to 18th man
The Gold Coast will know if their finals hopes are still flickering well before they run out on to Cbus Super Stadium to confront the Warriors on Sunday.
With the Titans sitting in 10th place, two points out of eighth place, they need Canberra to lose to the Roosters on Thursday night and Melbourne to beat the Sharks in the early Friday game before worrying about a win over the Warriors.
And even if those two results fall their way, they have ground to make up in the for-and-against columns where they lag behind the Sharks.
The Warriors formally dropped out of contention when they coughed up a 16-0 lead against Canberra in round 24 but are always a threat given their many talented attacking weapons.
Match: Titans v Warriors
Round 25 -
home Team
Titans
8th Position
away Team
Warriors
12th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
The rundown
Team news
Titans: Kevin Proctor, who had been battling an AC joint problem, is out with Sam McIntyre to start in the second row.
David Fifita will again start on the interchange bench in a match the Titans need to win by 11 points or more to sneak into the finals after the Sharks and Raiders were beaten. Toby Sexton will be Gold Coast's 18th man.
In the only change to last week's 17, Moeaki Fotuaika has been promoted from the bench to start at prop with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui sliding back to lock.
Greg Marzhew and Anthony Don dropped off the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.
The Titans have won only two of their past seven games at Cbus Super Stadium.
Warriors: In a minor change announced an hour before kick-off, Jazz Tevaga moves from the reserves list to the interchange. Kodi Nikorima will be the Warriors' 18th man.
Matt Lodge was successful in fighting a dangerous contact charge at the judiciary on Tuesday night and will take his place in the side.
Chanel Harris-Tavita (foot) returns to the line-up at five-eighth and is expected to play.
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown comes on to the interchange in place of Bunty Afoa, who picked up a hamstring injury at training on Tuesday.
Adam Pompey and Jack Murchie were omitted from the playing squad on Saturday.
The Warriors have won nine of their past 11 games against the Titans.
Match: Titans v Warriors
Round 25 -
home Team
Titans
away Team
Warriors
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Titans is number 1 Jayden CampbellFullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
-
Winger for Titans is number 2 Phillip SamiWinger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
-
Centre for Titans is number 3 Brian KellyCentre for Warriors is number 3 Peta Hiku
-
Centre for Titans is number 4 Patrick HerbertCentre for Warriors is number 4 Rocco Berry
-
Winger for Titans is number 5 Corey ThompsonWinger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
-
Five-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Tyrone PeacheyFive-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
-
Halfback for Titans is number 7 Jamal FogartyHalfback for Warriors is number 7 Sean O'Sullivan
Forwards
-
Prop for Titans is number 8 Jarrod WallaceProp for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
-
Hooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch ReinHooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
-
Prop for Titans is number 10 Moeaki FotuaikaProp for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 12 Beau Fermor2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Josh Curran
-
2nd Row for Titans is number 17 Sam McIntyre2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Euan Aitken
-
Lock for Titans is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleauiLock for Warriors is number 13 Bayley Sironen
Interchange
-
Interchange for Titans is number 14 Erin ClarkInterchange for Warriors is number 15 Eliesa Katoa
-
Interchange for Titans is number 15 David FifitaInterchange for Warriors is number 16 Kane Evans
-
Interchange for Titans is number 16 Jaimin JolliffeInterchange for Warriors is number 17 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
-
Interchange for Titans is number 19 Sam LisoneInterchange for Warriors is number 18 Jazz Tevaga
Reserves
-
Reserve for Titans is number 20 Toby SextonReserve for Warriors is number 14 Kodi Nikorima
Match Officials
- Referee: Ashley Klein
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall
Last updated:
Key match-up
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui v Addin Fonua-Blake: The young Maroons representative has had a good season despite struggling to live up to the pre-season hype while Fonua- Blake has finished strongly after missing time with injury. The young bull has the advantage in tries (three to one) and tackle busts (46-31) having played four more games but Fonua-Blake comes out on top in offloads (20-5) and average metres (161-135).
Stat attack
The Gold Coast have a poor track record against the Warriors, winning only twice in the past 11 contests between the two sides - round nine last year and round 20, 2018. The poor run includes a six-match losing streak between 2015 and 2018.
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