Gold Coast Titans expect fired up Cronulla Sharks

THE Gold Coast Titans are wary of a backlash from Cronulla when they meet at Sharks Stadium on Sunday.

THE Gold Coast Titans are wary of a backlash from Cronulla when they meet at Sharks Stadium on Sunday.

Mystery surrounds the makeup of the embattled home side after 14 of its players were targeted for investigation by the Australian Sports Doping Authority.

With the threat of heavy sanctions hanging over the club, it could be a severely depleted Sharks outfit that lines up in round one.

The Titans have absorbed more than their share of off-field blows during their six-year existence and will not be underestimating their stricken opponent.

"That's out of our control,'' said lock Ashley Harrison.

"If you have a look at all the teams with adversity that we've faced in the past, they come out on the weekend and play good footy.

"We'll have to be right on our game whoever they throw on the paddock.''

Fullback William Zillman said the unfolding drama would not distract Gold Coast from its opening assignment of the new season.

"It's business as usual for us. It is important not to get caught up in that, but it's not too difficult to stay focused,'' Zillman said.

The Titans' depth and stability means they are likely to arrive in Cronulla as warm favourites when betting, suspended by many bookmaking agencies on Wednesday, are reopened.

Even if the Sharks are reduced to a second string team Harrison has been around the NRL too long to be seduced by names and reputations.

That is why the Gold Coast and Queensland backrower is withholding excitement about his side's chances until after the game on Sunday night.

There has been little hype about the Titans during the pre-season and rightly so after their sub-par performances over the past two seasons.

But the addition of forward Dave Taylor and utility Brad Takairangi to a fully fit list has delivered a big and aggressive pack to the club.

Such is their depth, club favourites Mark Minichiello and Steve Michaels missed selection for round one and 18th man Luke O'Dwyer is set to be omitted.

"On paper it looks great. But we're yet to perform on the footy field,'' the straight-shooting Harrison said.

"If we do our job on the weekend we might be able to get excited after that.''

The Titans have four representative players - Harrison, Greg Bird, skipper Nate Myles and Country prop Luke Douglas - in their starting pack.

On the bench they can choose from Test forward Taylor, former international Luke Bailey and 114kg hitman Ryan James who excelled in last month's NRL All Stars match.

Gold Coast sought dry turf for training yesterday at Kingscliff but lost fringe first grader Cody Nelson to a knee injury inside the first 15 minutes.