NRL: Gold Coast Titans take risks for New Zealand Warriors clash

AAP

2 Aug, 2016 08:33 AM2 mins to read

Nathan Peats of the Titans. Photo / Getty

Gold Coast coach Neil Henry admits his team's precarious position on the NRL ladder has forced him to risk key duo Nathan Peats and Tyrone Roberts on Sunday against the Warriors.

A hamstring issue sidelined Peats for the Titans' draw on Monday night with Cronulla, while Roberts failed to finish the match after picking up a knee injury.

However, with just five games remaining in the regular season and his men sitting seventh on the table, only one spot above the Warriors, Henry said it was crucial the strike pair took the field this week.

Peats was named in place of Ryan Simpkins, who was added on Tuesday to an extended bench.

"We're at the stage where we need to roll our dice; we need to play that style of footy," he said.

"We need to have a crack and see where it takes us. Yeah, we're a bit battered and bruised. It was quite a physical game and it's a six-day turnaround.

"The boys will have a light week this week and we really only get one ball-work session in, then the captain's run, which is a light run, and that'll do us."

Henry said he would take a wait-and-see approach with Roberts, who had a long history with knee injuries dating back to his time at Newcastle.

Rookie Cameron Cullen is on standby.

"(Roberts is) quite sore, posterior cruciate ligament strain, I think. He's had it before and it settles down quite quickly so it wasn't as bad as we first thought," Henry said.

"Cullo's done a good job there before. We'll wait and see. If he responds as quickly as he has done before, he'll be right to play."

The Titans can jump as high as sixth with a win, but can drop as low as 10th if they lose.