Depleted in other areas, at least injury-hit Gold Coast can rely on boasting a full-strength halves pairing for Sunday’s crucial NRL clash with the Sydney Roosters.

The Titans could only name a 16-man squad on Tuesday as they try to overcome a hefty injury toll but, with Albert Kelly’s successful return in last weekend’s narrow loss to the Warriors, halves are not a problem for coach John Cartwright.

Five-eighth Aidan Sezer says it was exciting to renew the partnership after Kelly’s three-week absence with a sternum injury.

And he says the young duo are itching to test themselves against Roosters pair Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney, who also teamed up for NSW in this year’s State of Origin series.

“Looking forward to that challenge,” Sezer told reporters.

“They’re the incumbent NSW halves pairing. Me and Alby, being young blokes, we like to test ourselves against the best.

“It’ll be a good challenge for us and hopefully we can just improve on getting back to basics in our chemistry, in our partnership together – just put in a good performance for the 80 minutes.”

The Titans took a break from their normal routine on Wednesday and shared their training run with members of the Gold Coast Suns at the AFL team’s base in Carrara.

Suns midfielder and former rugby league star Karmichael Hunt was among those who took part, and there must have been some temptation to see if the AFL club would loan the former Kangaroo and Queensland star to the Titans for the weekend.

But while the club’s injury woes have them struggling to put a full team together, Sezer is remaining confident the Titans can beat the Roosters to keep their bid for a finals spot on track.

“That’s why they’re all in the squad,” Sezer said.

“All the boys are talented in their own right and, whoever the coaching staff put in, we know they’ll do a job and what they’ll be capable of.”