GCBulletin: http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...st-titans.html

FRUSTRATED Titans fullback William Zillman may be wrapped in cotton wool for another week and forced to watch his desperate team tackle the Bulldogs from the sideline tonight.

Zillman travelled to Sydney yesterday after having a light training session as he recovers from a groin injury that has so far kept him sidelined for five weeks.

It's likely he will be rested given the short turnaround to Saturday's clash against the Cowboys in Townsville but Titans coach John Cartwright said that he won't make a decision until this afternoon.

"We'll take him down but he's in extreme doubt. In fact, I don't think he'll play," Cartwright said.

"He's not far away but it's probably not the night to make a return from that sort of injury.

"He's very close (to returning) and he's very frustrated. They knew when it happened it was a six-week injury and it's about that now.

"When you take the conditions into account it was a slippery, greasy ground when it happened (in Newcastle) and it's going to be that (tonight).

"If we were desperate we could probably play him but the side went well last week and we've got a short turnaround and a lot of travel going into the Cowboys game. We want some fresh heads coming into the side next week."

David Mead ran at fullback for most of yesterday's session and could rotate with Anthony Don during tonight's game.

Mead had little defensive work to do against the Tigers last weekend but co-captain Greg Bird said he wasn't worried about the Bulldogs targeting the regular winger.

"I don't know whether they can go after a bloke like that. He's a pretty tough character," he said. "He enjoys playing fullback and the way he plays is accustomed to that style."

It's a crucial match for the Titans who are desperate to win to keep in touch with the top eight given their final two matches are away to premiership favourites Sydney Roosters and Melbourne.

A victory would be a massive boost before they face the Cowboys and Cartwright said he wanted his team's destiny to be in their own hands.

"If we can get away with a win against the Dogs it's ours then. They've got to take it from us," he said. "It's going to be a really exciting end to the competition.

"All of a sudden that daunting draw doesn't look so daunting.

"This end of the year is about winning form and if we're playing semi-final football we'll definitely be going in with good form against good sides.

"That's the theory of it. The challenge is there to go and do it."