Ash Taylor confirmed for Titans

Ash Taylor has been confirmed to return from injury against the nib Newcastle Knights today.

Taylor had been named in jersey No.21 earlier in the week, however Justin Holbrook has called on his general for today's clash at Cbus Super Stadium.

Here is your Ultimate Guide to the Knights Rd.5 clash with the Titans, brought to you by Mine Super.

GOLD COAST TITANS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Date: Saturday, April 10

Kick-off: 3:00pm

Venue: Cbus Super Stadium

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Since: 2007

Played: 23

Titans: 11

Knights: 12

TEAMS

Titans

1. AJ Brimson, 2. Phillip Sami, 3. Brian Kelly, 4. Patrick Herbert, 5. Corey Thompson, 21. Ash Taylor, 7. Jamal Fogarty (c), 8. Jarrod Wallace, 9. Mitch Rein, 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, 11. Kevin Proctor (c), 12. David Fifita, 13. Tyrone Peachey. Interchange: 14. Moeaki Fotuaika, 15. Sam Lisone, 16. Jaimin Jolliffe, 17. Erin Clark.

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Starford To'a, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Gehamat Shibasaki, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Connor Watson, 7. Blake Green, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Jayden Brailey (c), 10. Daniel Saifiti (c), 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Mitch Barnett, 14. Chris Randall. Interchange: 13. Sauaso Sue, 15. Pasami Saulo, 16. Josh King, 17. Brodie Jones. 

Titans v Knights Round 5 NRL team list

TEAM NEWS

In a huge boost for the Knights, Kalyn Ponga has returned to the side and named at fullback.

The superstar No.1 had off-season surgery on his shoulder and missed the first four games of the current season.

The reigning Danny Buderus medal winner will aim to bring his speed and ball-playing abilities to the line-up as they look to return to the winner's circle.

Experienced half, Blake Green has also returned to the starting line-up for the first time since Round 15 last season.

Green will form a halves pairing with Connor Watson while Chris Randall has come onto the bench in the No.14 jumper.

INJURY FRONT

The injury toll from the Dragons defeat has brought a few changes to the Knights starting line-up for Saturday's away trip.

Scans have confirmed Mitchell Pearce has sustained a ruptured pectoral injury. 

Pearce will require surgery and is facing 10-12 weeks on the sidelines.

Scans have also confirmed fullback Tex Hoy has picked up a hamstring strain while Kurt Mann was another player to leave the field early in the second half for a Head Injury Assessment. Mann failed his HIA and will be unavailable for our clash with the Gold Coast this week, as per NRL protocols.

Titans halfback Jamal Fogarty is on track to play as he aims to recover from a quad injury while centre Brian Kelly has also returned to their side.

TRICKY TITANS 

The Gold Coast Titans have proven to be a tough proposition for the Knights on their home turf.

Newcastle haven't won on the Gold Coast since 2015 and have lost the last five games against their upcoming opposition at Cbus Super Stadium.

Since the Titans joined the league in 2007, the Knights hold a narrow superiority on the overall record with 12 wins to the Titans 11.

Although, the Titans won the previous encounter between the two sides with a 36-6 result in Rd.20 last season.

Gold Coast finished last season strongly only to narrowly miss out on the finals but have also started the season with two wins and two losses.

BOUNCE-BACK FACTOR

As mentioned, both teams are coming off Rd.4 losses and will be determined to snap the run and gain a valuable two points.

The Titans fought a tough battle against the Canberra Raiders last round but were defeated 20-4 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

Although, the Titans have shown their quality with two previous wins against the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys.

The Knights will go into the fixture prepared for an enduring contest against a huge forward pack boasting the likes of Origin representatives in Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, David Fifita and Moeaki Fotuaika.

Newcastle will take pride in the fact they have never lost three straight under coach Adam O'Brien since the current head coach started last season.

STAT ATTACK

Second-row forward Mitch Barnett has enjoyed four tries in his last four games against the Gold Coast Titans.

Daniel Saifiti is currently sitting equal eighth on the Dally M voting count. Saifiti picked up a point in the Knights loss to the Dragons and sits on 5 points for the season so far.

Blake Green's appearance against the Dragons was his first defeat in a Knights jersey.

The Titans have made the most errors so far in 2021 with 57.

Gold Coast are second in the competition with line breaks sitting on 23.

UPDATED: Saifiti accepts ban