The Gold Coast Titans have received a massive boost on the eve of their clash with the Rabbitohs, with first-choice halves Aidan Sezer and Albert Kelly both completing Friday morning's final training session.
While the club had been confident all week of Kelly recovering in time from a hairline fracture in his leg to take his place for Saturday night's meeting, there was less optimism regarding chief playmaker Sezer, whose kicking game will be crucial in limiting the influence of South Sydney fullback Greg Inglis.
Having been troubled by a quadriceps injury in the weeks prior, Sezer suffered a significant ankle injury when he was pressured in making a kick against the Wests Tigers in Round 8. It was enough to rule him out of a maiden City Origin jersey but coach John Cartwright has praised Sezer's toughness in being able to play through an injury.
"He is the sort of guy that can play with an injury, he showed that against the Tigers – he's definitely showed it a couple of times. The fact is most of the guys have to play at some stage with an injury and he's one guy who can."
Kelly will wear a protective guard on his leg but Cartwright said it would take a freak accident for him to suffer any further damage.
What he didn't rule out was furthering his team's reputation in some circles of being one that niggles the opposition. Co-captains Greg Bird and Nate Myles take an unapologetic aggression into any game that they play and Cartwright has indicated that the expected biggest crowd of the season at Cbus Super Stadium will could be in for an impromptu fireworks display.
"When two forces hit and no one is going to give or take there are going to be some sparks fly and that's the same with footballers," Cartwright said.
"If they both hit at speed and no one is willing to concede there are going to be some sparks fly and I think when that happens we play our best footy.
"There are probably a few nigglers out there [in the Titans team]. It's hard to get away with anything these days with video refs and things we're seeing guys get suspended for it would be hard to get away with anything but there are other ways to niggle I suppose and we've got a few of those guys in the team."
The greatest opportunity for sparks to fly lies in the battle between Bird and Myles and South Sydney's Burgess boys, Sam, George and Luke, and Cartwright was full of praise for the way they all approach their footy.
"Some guys bring out their best for club footy but those guys (Bird and Myles), you couldn't wish for more intensity in the way they play. Especially this year they have brought it every week and it's been something that the rest of the squad see and get on the back of," he said.
"[The Burgess boys] have want you want to see in your players, they care about the result, they care about each other and sometimes in the middle it can boil over but I don't have a problem with that."
While the club had been confident all week of Kelly recovering in time from a hairline fracture in his leg to take his place for Saturday night's meeting, there was less optimism regarding chief playmaker Sezer, whose kicking game will be crucial in limiting the influence of South Sydney fullback Greg Inglis.
Having been troubled by a quadriceps injury in the weeks prior, Sezer suffered a significant ankle injury when he was pressured in making a kick against the Wests Tigers in Round 8. It was enough to rule him out of a maiden City Origin jersey but coach John Cartwright has praised Sezer's toughness in being able to play through an injury.
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"He is the sort of guy that can play with an injury, he showed that against the Tigers – he's definitely showed it a couple of times. The fact is most of the guys have to play at some stage with an injury and he's one guy who can."
Kelly will wear a protective guard on his leg but Cartwright said it would take a freak accident for him to suffer any further damage.
What he didn't rule out was furthering his team's reputation in some circles of being one that niggles the opposition. Co-captains Greg Bird and Nate Myles take an unapologetic aggression into any game that they play and Cartwright has indicated that the expected biggest crowd of the season at Cbus Super Stadium will could be in for an impromptu fireworks display.
"When two forces hit and no one is going to give or take there are going to be some sparks fly and that's the same with footballers," Cartwright said.
"If they both hit at speed and no one is willing to concede there are going to be some sparks fly and I think when that happens we play our best footy.
"There are probably a few nigglers out there [in the Titans team]. It's hard to get away with anything these days with video refs and things we're seeing guys get suspended for it would be hard to get away with anything but there are other ways to niggle I suppose and we've got a few of those guys in the team."
The greatest opportunity for sparks to fly lies in the battle between Bird and Myles and South Sydney's Burgess boys, Sam, George and Luke, and Cartwright was full of praise for the way they all approach their footy.
"Some guys bring out their best for club footy but those guys (Bird and Myles), you couldn't wish for more intensity in the way they play. Especially this year they have brought it every week and it's been something that the rest of the squad see and get on the back of," he said.
"[The Burgess boys] have want you want to see in your players, they care about the result, they care about each other and sometimes in the middle it can boil over but I don't have a problem with that."
