New Titans halfback Jamal Fogarty can be the outstanding organiser and communicator the team needs in the No.7 jersey leading into the clash with the Cowboys in Townsville.
Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook has switched Ash Taylor to five-eighth and moved Tyrone Roberts to fullback to accommodate Fogarty at halfback in a backline reshuffle for Friday night's showdown.
Last year the 26-year-old Fogarty was a star in the Intrust Super Cup for the Burleigh Bears where he guided his side to a premiership and took out the Petero Civoniceva Medal as the best player in the competition.
Fogarty signed with the Eels after Burleigh had earlier won the 2016 Intrust Super Cup title but returned to the Gold Coast for family reasons after securing a release.
He played two games for the Titans in 2017 before resuming his career with Burleigh.
The Titans rewarded the gifted playmaker, who is light and nimble on his feet in a similar manner to former Titans skipper Scott Prince, with a new deal.
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Gold Coast centre Dale Copley said Fogarty was ready to make the most of the chance.
"He has got a resume that is obviously really impressive in the Queensland Cup where he has been outstanding for Burleigh the last couple of years," Copley said.
"It has been a noticeable change having him there. He brings a really good energy to the group and is a tremendous communicator.
"Everyone knows exactly where they have to be on every play when he is on the field and we are confident he will do a really good job for us."
Fogarty is highly regarded by Titans assistant coach Jimmy Lenihan who was his former Burleigh Bears coach.
Meanwhile Copley, who played on the wing in the opening two rounds this year, last had an extended crack at centre for the Titans in 2018 and is determined to make the most of his opportunity in his favourite position.
He gets that chance in the wake of Kallum Watkins move to Toronto Wolfpack and the omission of Brian Kelly, who missed several training sessions after being stood down during the flu vaccination saga.
"It is a good two years since I've had a real good run in the centres and it is a position I have played a hell of a lot of footy at," Copley said.
"I played all my juniors there and a fair bit of first grade so it is somewhere I am comfortable.
"The biggest challenge about playing on an edge is the combinations with your winger, back-rower and half. While I am comfortable it has been a lot of work with a whole new edge."
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Copley suffered an internal injury against the Eels in round two but the enforced break due to the COVID-19 pandemic meant he ended up missing no games.
"It came at a pretty decent time for myself. I was probably going to miss the next game with a damaged lung so it means I am not going to miss any footy which has been good," he said.
"We have a few changes but we have put together a pretty decent training block these last three weeks and I think there is a fair bit more confidence in the group.
"It is really exciting having footy back. A couple of months ago it was pretty uncertain and to have it back at the new stadium [in Townsville], albeit with no crowd, is going to be exciting."