Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook expects Kieran Foran to prove his fitness to face St George Illawarra.
The Titans' new five-eighth is recovering from a badly corked knee, suffered after a terrific club debut in a round-one defeat of Wests Tigers.
Named on Tuesday in the side, Foran will train on Friday and only need to complete the session to be cleared to play.
"Hopefully he's improving every day," Holbrook said before training on Friday.
"He's determined; if he gets through today's sessions he'll play.
"(I'm) hopeful; we'd love to have him out there, but have to wait and see."
The veteran playmaker's combination on the left edge with the re-signed David Fifita showed promising signs against the Tigers, while young halfback Tanah Boyd has also relished Foran's presence.
But Holbrook said the No.7 had already found his groove before the New Zealand Test talent's arrival in the pre-season.
"In the lower grades they can put on a clinic then in the NRL everyone defends well," Holbrook said.
"It's taken him a couple of years to find his feet, but it hasn't been since Kieran's come.
"The minute he stepped in at pre-season (after playing the last five games of 2022 at halfback) he was full of confidence and wanted to be that starting halfback."
It will be the Dragons' first game of the regular season after a bye in the opening round.
"They would have not liked having the bye round one but we're talking about guys with niggles and they're not," Holbrook said.
"They'll be fresh and very determined."
