Tyrone Roberts will captain a young Gold Coast trial team in his return to Titans colours a year after leaving the NRL club.
The 27-year-old playmaker has been named skipper by coach Garth Brennan for Saturday's clash with North Queensland on the Sunshine Coast.
The game will mark his second stint with the club after cutting short his time with English Super League outfit Warrington due to homesickness late last year.
The captaincy nod caps a big week for Roberts, who claimed the Preston Campbell Medal for his performance in the Indigenous All Stars' 34-14 win over the Maori All Stars in Melbourne last Friday.
"It's great to have that responsibility," he said.
"I consider myself a leader in the group anyway. For the boys, I'm a player they can come to if they need anything and I'm just honoured to play this weekend and have a go."
Brennan has left out several NRL regulars from the 26-man squad to face the Cowboys including Tyrone Peachey, Nathan Peats, Kevin Proctor, Jai Arrow and Michael Gordon.
Roberts, whose pre-season started late due to a turf toe injury picked up in England, said he'd never contemplated sitting out Saturday's trial after his All-Stars' exploits.
"I'd rather play than train," he said.
"You learn a lot more from playing with the players beside you than training. I'm honoured to play. Being captain is a bonus; I can't wait."
The squad includes a number of local under-20s graduates chasing a first grade berth while returnee centre Brian Kelly will play his first senior game for the club after two seasons at Manly.
Roberts says the deeper talent pool is the biggest change he's noticed since his departure for England.
"There's a lot of youth. A lot of people that are hungry. They want to play and train hard, it's good to have that hunger in the team," he said.
TITANS TO FACE NORTH QUEENSLAND
Jesse Arthars, Anthony Don, Brenko Lee, Brian Kelly, Phillip Sami, Dylan Phythian, Tyrone Roberts (capt), Jack Stockwell, Mitch Rein, Moeaki Fotuaika, Bryce Cartwright, Will Matthews, Max King. Interchange: Christian Hazard, Morgan Boyle, Jai Whitbread, Leilani Latu, John Palavi, Dairus Farmer, Jaxson Paulo, Kai O'Donnell, Ben Thomas, Ioana Seiuli, Kea Pere, Treymain Spry, Jacob Hind.
Australian Associated Press
