Titans name fresh faces to take on Dragons

The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans have named fresh faces Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, Shannon Walker and Ben Ridge in a new-look 18-man squad for Friday night's clash against St George Illawarra at WIN Jubilee Stadium.

With five-eighth Greg Bird (hamstring; 3-4 wks) and lock Ashley Harrison (knee; 2 wks) both sidelined with injury, Jetstar Titans coach John Cartwright had named Michaels and Toopi as the new centre pairing in a reshuffled line-up.

Walker, 21, has been included on an extended five-man interchange bench alongside 20-year-old Ridge, who is in contention to make his NRL debut if given the nod to fill one of the four final bench positions.

Completing the reshuffle, dual international Mat Rogers moves from centre to five-eighth in place of Bird while Bodene Thompson shifts from centre to lock in the absence of Harrison.

The promotion marks Michaels' first appearance in Titans colours since joining the club from the Broncos in May while Walker is in the frame to play his first match since Round 19, 2008.

Toopi has scored three tries in five appearances for the Titans this season before sustaining a calf injury.

The Titans will be looking for their first away win against the Dragons when they play for the first time at WIN Jubilee Stadium, having fallen to the red and whites in their three previous clashes in Wollongong.

In the curtain raiser on Friday night, Rod Patison's Titans NYC outfit will be searching for their seventh straight win after storming into eighth spot on the ladder with a mid-season charge.

To view the full story and both Titans NRL and NYC squads go to:

http://www.titans.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=28042