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Prince will play

Prince will play

09/07/2010 12:47:21 AM

Ashley Harrison has quashed fears pivotal Gold Coast captain Scott Prince would miss Friday night's opening NRL finals match with the Warriors.

Prince had his shoulder needled at half time after suffering an ACL injury in last week's 21-18 win over the West Tigers.

The half-back is arguably the best No.7 left in the competition and much of the Titans' premiership hopes rest on his suspect shoulders. So too do Queensland's chances, as the Titans are the sole Sunshine State representative.

"The latest is Princey should be right for the weekend," Harrison said. "He's been advised to get plenty of treatment this week and come Friday he'll be right to go."

Harrison said Luke Bailey had a plate inserted in his thumb last week, but the prop would also be fit, while coach John Cartwright has predicted the return of livewire full-back Preston Campbell for the match at Skilled Park.

The Titans finished third last year, but crumbled when it counted, falling in straight sets after consecutive finals defeats to Brisbane and Parramatta and ended up sixth.

This year, things were different.

"It's in the back of our mind but I think come Friday, if we're in a similar type of position to last year we might be able to handle it better," Harrison said hopefully.

As the clash pits fourth v fifth, both sides could gain a second life if they lose, but Warriors captain Simon Mannering was having none of those notions.

"You don't want to be relying on other teams to continue on in the competition," he said. "We'll be going out there Friday night treating it as if it is sudden death."

Mannering never doubted Prince's availability, and saw shutting him down as a key to pushing deep in to the playoffs.

"All the guys are excited, especially the guys who haven't played finals before. It's what you train all the preseason for, to give yourself a chance of getting to the Grand Final."

Confidence and belief was high in the camp, which had been built around strong defence and a core of young players who had come of age. The club had also 'turned a corner' as travelling across the Tasman was no longer an issue.

"We did it tough last year but the guys who've been around for two or three years have really turned it on for us and are playing really well. Even though they're young they've been strong throughout the whole year," Mannering said of the key to the Warriors' success.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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