Gold Coast v Bulldogs
Friday, Skilled Park, 8.35pm
Referees: Jared Maxwell, Alan Shortall
Head to head: Titans 1, Bulldogs 2
Last match: Titans 24-20 at Skilled Park, round 10, 2008
TAB Sportsbet: Titans $1.65, Bulldogs $2.20
Footy TAB: Bulldogs +3.5 points
The Titans will appreciate going back home after losing on the road against the Dragons last weekend. They won their first-round match in impressive fashion at home, coming from 14-0 down against the Knights to win 34-20. There has been an injury cloud over Titans halfback Scott Prince since he strained a hamstring on Monday, and coach John Cartwright has given him until late today to prove his fitness. His availability or otherwise is obviously critical.
The Bulldogs will come together hard as a group going into this game, because of what happened in their game against Penrith last weekend. The Bulldogs engineered a late escape to win, 28-26, but it subsequently emerged they had 14 players on the field at the time they scored their winning try and they are set to lose the two points. The siege mentality will be in evidence and if there is a club that knows how to overcome off-field problems and win it is the Bulldogs. That makes them very dangerous in a game like this. The Titans are favourites at home, but only slightly. We've got a real contest on our hands here, with the result likely to be decided by just a few points.
TITANS: Preston Campbell, Esi Tonga, Josh Graham, Brett Delaney, Chris Walker, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (capt), Luke Bailey (capt), Nathan Friend, Michael Henderson, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Matt White, Brad Meyers, Luke O'Dwyer, William Zillman, Aaron Cannings (one to be omitted)
BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Roberts, Brett Kimmorley, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Chris Armit, Gary Warburton, Andrew Ryan (capt), David Stagg. Interchange: Lee Te Maari, Greg Eastwood, John Kite, Ben Barba
Source: http://www.leaguehq.com.au