Titans v Cowboys preview - 2017 Round 4

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Two depleted Queensland teams go head to head on the glitter strip.

Few would be surprised if these two sides rocked up to Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday via ambulance transport, such is the depth of the injury crisis facing both the Titans and Cowboys going into Round 4. Having lost co-captain Matt Scott (ACL, season) and Dally M winner Jason Taumalolo (suspension) in recent weeks, the Cowboys have also struggled by without Lachlan Coote, Antonio Winterstein and now Justin O'Neill - creating a new test of their backline depth as well.

The result is a back five full of rookies - Kalyn Ponga, Gideon Gela-Mosby and Javid Bowen were all fighting to stay in the squad over the opening fortnight, and now have starting roles as a result of the injury crisis facing the Townsville outfit.

Things are no better in (Surfers) Paradise. Already without Nathan Peats prior to season kickoff, the loss since of Jarryd Hayne, Anthony Don, Will Zillman and new signing Dan Sarginson has now been compounded by makeshift hooker Tyrone Roberts struggling with a hamstring injury. He and potential replacement Karl Lawton are both named in the side for Saturday's clash but it's looking like at least one of them won't be there come 8pm local time.

In terms of form the Titans are looking like the team to back after soundly outplaying the high-flying Eels last Friday - the away side for this game were comfortably beaten at home by a team that few expected to put on such a performance in Manly.

Last meeting: Round 26 2016 - Cowboys 32 Titans 16

These two have met 17 times since the Titans' inception in 2007, and the Cowboys are ahead by just one win 9 to 8. In line with overall form the last few years, the Cowboys are currently the dominant outfit with the Titans only win recently a one-point victory in 2014. The Gold Coast have the wood at Robina however, winning five of eight played there since it opened in 2008.

Who to watch: Emerging Titans half Ash Taylor will be relishing the opportunity to go up against one of the players he hopes to replace in the Queensland squad over the coming years. He's had the benefit of a steady five-eighth beside him in Kane Elgey after his halves counterpart missed 2016 through injury, and it showed in spades during their win over Parramatta last round. If big boppers like Ryan James and Jarrod Wallace can eat up some metres for him, he'll do plenty of damage to a piece-meal Cowboys team.

In the opposition rooms, the man to watch is still JT. While his teammates seem to be dropping like flies around him, the away side still possess a world-class halfback. After a quiet night last Saturday in the loss to Manly, JT will be smarting. If the Cowboys can jag a victory in this contest it will certainly be thanks to the mercurial little halfback from Souths Sunnybank.

The favourite: The money is with the Cowboys in this one although there is still plenty of support for the Titans.

My tip: Only a fool could tip on form in 2017 but the Titans impressed last weekend, and the Cowboys didn't. Even with a turnaround from the visitors the Titans should still get home in this clash. Titans by 6.

9. Tyrone Roberts 2. Tyrone Roberts-Davis 3. Dale Copley 4. Konrad Hurrell 5. Daniel Vidot 6. Kane Elgey 7. Ashley Taylor 8. Jarrod Wallace 14. Ryan Simpkins 10. Ryan James 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Chris McQueen 13. Agnatius Paasi 16. Leivaha Pulu 17. Joe Greenwood 18. Max King 17. Karl Lawton

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Javid Bowen 4. Kane Linnett 5. Gideon Gela-Mosby 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston 8. Patrick Kaufusi 9. Jake Granville 10. Scott Bolton 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Coen Hess 13. Ethan Lowe 14. Ben Hampton 15. John Asiata 16. Shaun Fensom 17. Sam Hoare

Referees: Grant Atkins, Matt Noyen; Sideline Officials: Russell Turner, Michael Gordon; Video Referees: Luke Patten, Jared Maxwell;