Kevin Proctor still has captaincy ambitions at the Gold Coast Titans

HAVING been stripped of the captaincy, Kevin Proctor who will return to the Titans against the Rabbitohs, still has leadership aspirations.

Kevin Proctor during the Gold Coast Titans training session at Parkwood on the Gold Coast, Friday, June 9, 2017. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING

KEVIN Proctor has set his sights on regaining the Gold Coast Titans co-captaincy.

The former Kiwis forward will return from a four-match suspension for the understrength Titans in the encounter against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium tonight.

Proctor, 28, was stripped of the co-captaincy he shared with Ryan James following an alleged incident in May involving illicit drugs in Canberra after the Anzac Test.

He has also been banned from playing for New Zealand at the World Cup this year.

Kevin Proctor has his sights set on regaining the co-captaincy.

While Proctor was stripped of the leadership duties, a line was not put through his name and he could one day lead the Titans again.

James has been the sole captain since the incident but said Proctor was pushing for a return to the post.

“It’s definitely a desire of his,” James said. “He’s a leader at the club and in due time he’ll get the respect back and he’s going to work towards that and I think it will come.

“We need him on that edge and it’s just great to have him back. “(There is) a little bit more leadership around the playing group and it’s just great to have him back in the team.”

Proctor will be a welcome addition to a team in crisis.

The Titans will drop to 14th place on the ladder if they lose to a South Sydney side who produced a solid performance against Brisbane last week.

Titans coach Neil Henry will field forward Chris McQueen at five-eighth after leaving newly signed playmaker Jamal Fogarty out of the team, and urged halfback Ashley Taylor to take control.

“It is his opportunity to do that and also alleviate a bit of pressure on (new hooker) Pat Politoni,” Henry said.

“I thought (Taylor) was quiet last week (in the 34-12 loss to New Zealand).

“He was the first to admit his kicking game wasn’t great.

“We made a number of unforced errors with the ball and rushed things. We didn’t mount much pressure on the Warriors.

Kevin Proctor has had to make do with watching on from the sidelines.

“We need to do much better against Souths. I thought they were quite energetic against the Broncos and were a little bit unlucky.”

If the Titans do not beat the Rabbitohs they face the tough equation of having to win eight of their last 10 matches to sneak into the finals. It would be a disappointing season for the Gold Coast, who last year stunned the NRL to qualify for their first finals since 2010.

Despite the Titans being ravaged by injury and State of Origin, James said they could test the Rabbitohs.

“Obviously we didn’t have too many players to name but all the players that are there are hungry,” he said.

“It’s tough but everyone will go out there and try and play their hardest.

“Everyone will be enthusiastic and want to go out there and do their best for the club and their families.

“If we can go out there and out-enthuse (the Rabbitohs) we’ve definitely got a shot.”