It's a homecoming of sorts this week for Jim Lenihan.
The Titans Assistant Coach will return to Pizzey Park, home of the Burleigh Bears, the team he coached to multiple Intrust Super Cup titles.
"It is nice going back there," Lenihan told Radio TAB Breakfast.
"Last year we got smashed around a bit by the Burleigh boys, they look forward to this game.
I'm really glad to see games coming otherwise we turn into professional trainers."
The Titans will take a squad filled with exciting young faces into the clash against Burleigh.
Lenihan says the Intrust Super Cup side will be ready for the challenge.
"Anyone who is playing in the Intrust Super Cup and gets an opportunity to plan an NRL squad regardless of who is running out in the jersey, they look at it as an opportunity to see how they stack up to the full-time trainers," he said.
"They've (Intrust Super Cup players) have had just as long of a pre-season so I'm sure they're keen to hook in.
The Titans will be using the game as a serious hit-out, with a pre-season clash against the New Zealand Warriors in Lismore a week later to be the Club's only other clash before round one.
"We're looking to keep blokes out on the park and get bigger minutes into them and we'll just see how we go with combinations," Lenihan said.
"If you played 12 games in the NRL last year, you can only play one trial game this year so that means a lot of our younger kids will likely play in the Burleigh trial and our established first graders will play the following week against the Warriors.
"A lot of hard work went in to last year and that means absolutely nothing for this year, so we've got to start at base camp and start trekking up the mountain.
While Lenihan's premiership winning halfback Jamal Fogarty won't be playing (Indigenous All Stars) in the trial match, he says he's been thrilled to see the number seven flourish in the NRL.
"I think he is one of the best stories going in sport at the moment.
"He is very mindful that he hasn't arrived into a genius football player, he has worked hard to get his start and he has to keep working hard to keep improving and playing well.
"There are so many stories like him in the Intrust Super Cup, who if given the opportunity at the right time where they're ready for it and the club is ready for it then they can really make a fist of it.
"Sometimes it is opportunity when you're ready for it - it's all about timing."
Lenihan hopes that timing is now right for a tilt at the NRL premiership, with the Titans looking to build on last years ninth place finish.
He says community support is driving the playing group to succeed.
"I've lived on the Gold Coast for 20-something years and a lot of people are very positive in how they're talking about the Titans.
"People are really hoping we go well, willing us on and I think expectation is a good thing.
"As a professional football side you want to be in important games and play games that are important to you as well so expectation is a good thing for us to have this year.
"We have to go out again work really hard to earn the community's respect and make them proud of the team they have here on the Gold Coast."
