The shock withdrawal of Mat Rogers forced another Gold Coast Titans team reshuffle as Ian Lacey was placed on a collision course with the club that left his NRL career in tatters almost two years ago.

After Rogers was a no-show at training on Tuesday, Titans coach John Cartwright dropped the bombshell that the dual international had succumbed to a groin injury and would not run out against the Broncos at Skilled Park on Friday night.

It was another blow for Cartwright, who was already sweating on the availability of inspirational hooker Nathan Friend (ankle).

Lacey and 20-year-old rookie Kayne Lawton have been placed on standby for Friend who will be given until Thursday to prove his fitness.

Cartwright said it would be tempting to let Lacey make his Titans debut against the Broncos.

It would mark the first NRL game for Lacey after he and teammate John Te Reo sensationally had their contracts torn up by the Broncos in October, 2007 following the assault of a man outside an inner-city Brisbane hotel.

"It always helps playing against your old club - he will definitely be very enthusiastic," Cartwright said.

"But we will give Friendy until the last minute - if anyone can play with that injury it is him but we have Ian and Kayne there."

Showing true utility value, regular fullback Preston Campbell will slot in at pivot after initially being on stand-by for hooker Friend.

In some welcome good news, Cartwright welcomed back Queensland Origin backrower Ashley Harrison (ankle) and prop Aaron Cannings (hamstring).

Meanwhile, the battling Broncos will again be without captain Darren Lockyer (knee) and Origin forward Sam Thaiday (rib) while Tonie Carroll (knee) also joins the injury list that also boasts star winger Israel Folau (ankle).

Broncos coach Ivan Henjak hoped Lockyer would return next week but was unsure of the availability of Thaiday and Carroll, who is feeling the effects of accidentally kneeing referee Tony De Las Heras last round.

But Henjak kept the door open for a surprise return from a knee injury by bruising forward Nick Kenny.

"He only started running the other day and he'll have another run tomorrow and we'll see how he is," Henjak said.

Meanwhile, regular pivot Travis Burns has been called in as the Cowboys' fourth-choice hooker for Saturday night's clash with Penrith after a "battered and bruised" Anthony Watts copped a one match ban for striking.

"We have to be a bit creative with who ducks into the nine spot," Cowboys coach Neil Henry said.

"We are pretty limited at this stage after losing three hookers."

Meanwhile, former Test fullback Anthony Minichiello will hit the ground running in his return for the Sydney Roosters - on the wing.

Minichiello will collect the captaincy reins before running out against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Monday night - just his third game of the season due to an ankle injury.

He takes over from Roosters skipper Craig Fitzgibbon, who will be out for two to three weeks with a fractured cheekbone suffered in last Sunday's loss to the Warriors.

But the Golden Boot winner will start on the wing after Kiwi international Sam Perrett was retained at fullback.

However, his return is some welcome good news for a club that has lost eight of its last nine games and is reeling from the handling of coach Brad Fittler's end-of-season departure.

In other major team news, the cavalry has returned for the St George Illawarra's Sunday clash with the Warriors at Auckland.

Darius Boyd, Neville Costigan, Ben Creagh and Justin Poore return from Origin duty while Blues prop Michael Weyman (ankle), Kiwi international Jeremy Smith (ankle) and Matt Prior (virus) have also been welcomed back.

But the Warriors also have reason to smile with captain Steve Price named to play his first game since becoming embroiled in controversy after sensationally being knocked out in the dying stages of Origin III.

And Ben Hannant (knee), Greg Eastwood and try scoring machine Bryson Goodwin (both suspension) have been named to return for the Bulldogs' Saturday clash with the Eels at ANZ Stadium.

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