The Titans are desperate to not only atone for a 40-0 flogging in Round 2 but to give their home fans something to cheer about for the first time this season.
Gold Coast have recorded just the one win at Cbus Super Stadium since Round 6 last season but very easily could have been two-from-two to start 2015 after narrow losses to the Tigers and Knights.
The Panthers have three wins from five previous visits to Robina but have been decimated by injuries to key players such as Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace, Jamal Idris, Dean Whare and Lewis Brown.
They will unveil one of the youngest centre pairings in NRL history when Waqa Blake (20) and Robert Jennings (19) with the youngest of the Jennings boys making his debut.
There are three former Panthers in the Titans' line-up with James Roberts, Kierran Moseley and Ryan Simpkins all swapping the Golden West for the Gold Coast in the past 18 months.
Titans coach Neil Henry
On an under-manned Panthers outfit: "I think they proved last week that even with their starting halves out and a few disruptions to their team and with Jamal Idris going off, they ended up with a fairly comfortable win. We've got to respect that they're a dangerous side and got good confidence."
On the 40-0 loss to Penrith in Round 2: "We had a couple of tries disallowed and could have been up by 10 or 12 points but that didn't happen and then in the second half our completion rate was terrible. I think it was three from 11 and we were blown off the park."
On winning at home for the first time this year: "We've been in games here, even the Broncos game we stood up for large parts of that game and wasted a lot of opportunities to attack the line. Hopefully we can get that first win here, the boys are determined to back up last week's effort but they know it's going to be a fairly hard day."
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary
On how the players will respond to another disrupted week: "One thing we've found the last year or so is that we do run with the whole squad and that experience from last year will hold us in good stead for being able to get through this period without some of those key guys."
On missing so many senior players through injury: "I honestly see opportunity for other people. One of the good things about coaching is to give young players opportunities and debuts, other players who may be on the fringe, giving them an opportunity. That's part of the stuff that I really like about coaching. Whilst no one likes injuries there's always a silver lining there somewhere."
On whether the Round 2 scoreline counts for anything: "It is a different [Titans] side now and we're a different side as well. They're coming off a good win last week and we're under no illusions that it's going to be a tough game up there on the Gold Coast but looking forward to it."
Selection headaches
Titans captain Nate Myles continues to be troubled by a calf complaint but is expected to take his place in the side while Josh Hoffman has been passed fit to play after failing to finish last week's win over the Eels. Agnatius Paasi has recovered from a strained ligament in his foot and is vying for one of the bench spots along with Lachlan Burr.
While Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has been clear about the availability of players suffering major injuries, the fitness of back-rower Elijah Taylor won't be fully assessed until Saturday morning. There were fears the former Warrior had suffered another serious knee injury last weekend against Manly but it proved to be little more than severe bruising, his place in the team to be dependent upon how he pulls up following Friday's captain's run.
Market moves
The money is split almost 50/50 between the Titans and Panthers in what Sportsbet punters believe is the toughest game of the weekend to find a winner. The Panthers began the week as favourites but the Titans now find themselves as the $1.80 top pick. There should be plenty of points in this one... 90% per cent of the money is on the over 40.5 points which stands to reason given the amount of speedsters in both sides. Josh Mansour has been the best backed in the first try-scorer market and is the $8.50 favourite however punters are keen on James Segeyaro at the longer odds of $15. James Roberts is the one they want as far as the Titans are concerned at $11.
