This game looms as a golden opportunity for one of these clubs to right the ship after both endured a week to forget last round.
The Dragons are still reeling from (and feeling the effects of) a biosecurity breach that resulted in 12 players receiving suspensions, on top of last week's humbling 32-18 loss to a Manly side missing Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Titans, meanwhile, have lost four of their past five games, including a 26-8 thumping at the hands of Parramatta last Friday.
Yet both clubs remain in top-eight contention, and victory here could be a springboard towards better days ahead in the race towards the finals.
Match: Dragons v Titans
Round 19 -
home Team
Dragons
8th Position
away Team
Titans
10th Position
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
The rundown
Team news
Dragons: St George Illawarra will start 1-17 with Kaide Ellis the 18th man.
Corey Norman has been tabbed to serve his COVID breach suspension with rookie Jayden Sullivan taking over five-eighth duties for his first start of the season.
Matt Dufty, Tyrell Fuimaono and Kaide Ellis return after serving their bans against Manly.
Mathew Feagai (ankle) returns from injury for his first game since debuting in round nine and Brayden Wiliame drops out of the squad.
Billy Burns and Tyrell Sloan were trimmed from the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.
Dragons centre Jack Bird will make his 100th NRL appearance.
Titans: In a positional change announced an hour before kick-off, David Fifita will start on the interchange bench, with Beau Fermor now in the run-on side.
Apart from that they are 1-17, with Esan Marsters the 18th man.
There are no further changes expected for Justin Holbrook's side who remain in the race for a top-eight finish.
Rookie halfback Toby Sexton has been named to make his debut in place of Titans skipper Jamal Fogarty (hand) while Greg Marzhew returns from the casualty ward to take Phil Sami's spot on the wing.
Veteran dummy-half Mitch Rein steps in for Erin Clark who suffered an elbow injury in the heavy defeat to Parramatta.
Origin prop Moeaki Fotuaika wins back his starting spot which sees Jaimin Jolliffe return to the interchange.
Tanah Boyd and Jayden Campbell were omitted from the reserves list on Saturday.
Titans second-rower David Fifita has scored 10 tries in his past six games at Cbus Super Stadium.
Match: Dragons v Titans
Round 19 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Titans
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Matt DuftyFullback for Titans is number 1 Alexander Brimson
-
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Jordan PereiraWinger for Titans is number 2 Greg Marzhew
-
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Gerard BealeCentre for Titans is number 3 Brian Kelly
-
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Cody RamseyCentre for Titans is number 4 Patrick Herbert
-
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mathew FeagaiWinger for Titans is number 5 Corey Thompson
-
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Jayden SullivanFive-Eighth for Titans is number 6 Ashley Taylor
-
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben HuntHalfback for Titans is number 7 Toby Sexton
Forwards
-
Prop for Dragons is number 8 Blake LawrieProp for Titans is number 8 Jarrod Wallace
-
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Andrew McCulloughHooker for Titans is number 9 Mitch Rein
-
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Josh KerrProp for Titans is number 10 Moeaki Fotuaika
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Jack Bird2nd Row for Titans is number 11 Kevin Proctor
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Tariq Sims2nd Row for Titans is number 17 Beau Fermor
-
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Josh McGuireLock for Titans is number 13 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Adam CluneInterchange for Titans is number 12 David Fifita
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Tyrell FuimaonoInterchange for Titans is number 14 Tyrone Peachey
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jamayne Taunoa-BrownInterchange for Titans is number 15 Sam Lisone
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Jack De BelinInterchange for Titans is number 16 Jaimin Jolliffe
Reserves
-
Reserve for Dragons is number 18 Kaide EllisReserve for Titans is number 18 Esan Marsters
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy
Last updated:
Key match-up
David Fifita v Tariq Sims: Fifita has had a rollercoaster season in his first year as a Titan, scoring nine tries in his first seven games – an astounding run for a forward – before a dip in form that led to him spending time on the bench in both his past two Titans games (he still scored tries in each).
Sims, meanwhile, made the most of a surprise selection in the NSW starting side for Origin I with a standout performance, and looms as a key man for the Dragons in the run home. Whichever edge back-rower makes a bigger impact here could swing the tide of this contest.
Stat attack
While David Fifita may have had his issues in defence this season there's no denying his impact in attack. His 115 tackle breaks in 14 games is by far and away the most in the league, and his average of 8.2 per game has been matched just once by any player in the past seven seasons (by James Tedesco in his Dally M-winning 2017 campaign).
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