Both dangling dangerously close to the very bottom of the NRL ladder, Sunday's clash shapes as a crucial one for both the Bulldogs and Titans despite it having no bearing on the competition's top eight.
Playing at home for the fifth game in a row, the Bulldogs will look to get back to winning ways after consecutive losses to top-eight sides Cronulla and South Sydney.
The Gold Coast meanwhile put in one of their better performances of the year last week and were perhaps unlucky not to come away with the points against Brisbane in a 16-12 defeat.
The Titans won both clashes with the Bulldogs last year but have lost both of their previous two visits to this week's venue.
The Rundown
Team news
Bulldogs: Raymond Faitala-Mariner is a late inclusion in the starting 13, taking the place of Tevita Pangai who goes back to the bench. Chris Patolo comes back to the interchange while Kurtis Morrin is moved back to 18th man. With Jake Averillo sidelined due to COVID, Declan Casey will move to fullback with Aaron Schoupp coming in to the centres as he himself returns after missing last week's game due to COVID protocols. Josh Addo-Carr will return on the wing, despite spraining his ankle during last week's clash against South Sydney.
Titans: No late changes for Titans with Jayden Campbell named on the bench for his first game since Round 13 after recovering from a hamstring injury. Skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui returns to the starting side at lock and Erin Clark goes to the bench.
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Key match-up
Tevita Pangai jnr vs Tino Fa'asuamaleaui: The two monsters in the middle will likely set the tone for their side on Sunday and fans can look forward to their individual battle which promises to involve plenty of heavy contact on both sides of the ball. Big Tino was restricted to 29 minutes off the bench last week after playing in Origin III but still ran for 153 metres, while TPJ averages 117 metres across the year.
Stat Attack
The Titans really don't like playing on the road and are the only team left in the NRL without a single away victory in 2022. The Gold Coast haven't won outside of Queensland since round 16 last year when they beat the Raiders in Canberra, while for their last win in New South Wales you have to go back over a year to the May 2021 victory over the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
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