Unbeaten NRL leaders Melbourne are on Scott Prince alert even though the scheming Gold Coast halfback won't take the field against them at Skilled Park on Friday night.

The Storm know too well how a side can lift without their No.7, having recently captured the world club championship against the Leeds Rhinos with captain Cameron Smith as acting halfback for Cooper Cronk.

They also haven't forgotten losing 18-6 to the Titans last year at their Olympic Park fortress, when Prince was out injured.

"You're halfback is very important to any team," said Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

"We went through that stage with the world club challenge and of our first two (NRL) games when we didn't have our halfback."

Veteran Preston Campbell makes his second successive appearance in the role after filling in for the injured Prince against North Queensland in Townsville.

His time alongside new five-eighth Greg Bird should help the pair this weekend against the experienced Cronk and Brett Finch.

"With that run under their belt their combination and understanding of the players around them will be a lot better," said Bellamy.

"I remember almost the same round this time last year we played the Titans at home and Scott was out ... they actually gave us a bit of a touch up.

"Maybe some of our players may have had the same idea in their heads because they were reading too much of what you guys (the media) write and it was a real good lesson for us."

The Titans, who face several more weeks without Prince (broken thumb), have a proud Skilled Park record and few teams leave the Robina ground with a win.

The last time they visited the Gold Coast they were sent packing 18-0 but they didn't have their Origin stars on deck.

Melbourne showed against the previously-unbeaten Dragons they are a team that can stick rigidly to a game plan.

Their forwards pound away at their opposition, eventually allowing Smith and Cronk just enough space to bring their strike players Greg Inglis and Billy Slater into the game.

Like the Titans, Melbourne were winning without playing their best footy until their impressive effort against the Dragons.

Bellamy has been impressed by the form of Titans forwards Luke Bailey, Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Minichiello and hooker Nathan Friend.

"I've got a big rap on Nathan Friend, he's a tremendous dummy half who'll give his forwards some options and they'll give him some options around the play the ball," he said.

"They've also got our young bloke (Joseph) Tomane (who played for the Storm last year) whose playing out of his skin in the centres."

Bellamy is a huge fan of Campbell, a player he enjoys watching, at least when he's not coaching against him.

"Preston's a wonderful player. He's always amazed me," Bellamy said.

"The size of the guy when he goes to the defensive line, he actually accelerates and tries to duck under the defence.

"There's no self preservation with him.

"He's got a lot of pace and strength and courage for such a small man.

"I saw him accelerate into (112kg prop) Dane Tilse and he just bounced up, adjusted his head gear and got straight back into it again.

"He's a marvel, I've always enjoyed watching him play."

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