Melbourne Storm star fullback Billy Slater says their crushing loss to Manly is a hiccup in their NRL title defence.

And it’s one they want to quickly put behind them when they host the resurgent Gold Coast Titans at AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon in the final round before the finals.

The 28-8 loss to their arch-rivals brought to an end a four-game winning streak, with their lack of intensity more worrying than the scoreline.

“Obviously you’d like to be winning at this time of year but performing well is more important and that we didn’t do last week,” Slater said ahead of their captain’s run at AAMI Park.

“We had a good run before that and hopefully that was a minor hiccup for us and we can get back on track this week.”

The Titans, who last round knocked off competition heavy-weights Sydney Roosters, have everything to play for against the Storm.

They’re still alive in the finals hunt, needing to win and hope either Newcastle or the Cowboys lose to get into top eight.

“The Titans have a lot to play for and they’ve beaten the No.1 side in the comp last week and they’re going to come out all guns blazing,” said Slater.

“They’ve got dangerous players in the their side; the likes of (Greg) Bird, Nate Myles, they certainly toughen up around the middle.”

Slater said the Storm’s main focus this week at training had been on defence after conceding 28 points, with their left hand side particularly vulnerable.

Their start is another area of concern with Manly blowing them off the park early.

“Leaking 28 points is not ideal, although Manly were really good.

“Defence is one thing we’ve focused on it’s also just all the little areas that weren’t good on the weekend and we’re very unlike us.

“We need to make sure we get that right.”

The Titans upset Melbourne when they met in round 15, although the Storm were missing their representative players due to State of Origin.

During that match five-eighth Gareth Widdop dislocated his hip, which was then thought to have ended his season.

However Widdop will turn out for the Storm’s feeder side in the Queensland Cup, Brisbane Easts, in their semi-final against Mackay on Sunday.

If all goes well he will be pushing for a place in their finals line-up next weekend.

“It’s great to see him (Widdop) back running around,” Slater said.

It was obviously a pretty horrific injury he occurred during the year.

“It’s a great effort from him to get himself right.”