Roosters eyeing finals as Titans nurse wounds

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Sydney Roosters forward David Shillington says coach Brad Fittler has told the team it needs to set higher goals now its spot in the NRL top eight is all but assured.

The Roosters are joint ladder leaders with nine rounds to go in the home and away season.

Shillington says Fittler has spelt out what he expects of them for the rest of the season.

"We've used that to map out how we're going to go for the next eight or nine weeks before the finals," he said.

"We're tied at the top of the ladder so we just want to build momentum, keep winning our games and prepare for finals football rather than just playing each club game as it comes."

"If we just keep improving and just keep chipping away, get ourselves in a good position for the finals then really have a crack at the premiership."

Shillington himself will be looking to cement a regular spot in the side, starting with Friday night's clash with the Titans.

While the Roosters are cruising atop the NRL ladder, an end of season capitulation looms for the Gold Coast after losing co-captains Scott Prince and Luke Bailey to long term injuries as well as backrowers Ashley Harrison and Mark Minichiello.

But coach John Cartwright says has moved on from the late season injury crisis that has hit his club.

"They haven't been there for the last three weeks [Prince and Bailey]. We've been working hard on getting combinations and I've been happy with the way we have been able to put some points on the board," he said.

"We've just got to work a little bit harder on our defence."

To counter that problem, the Titans have named speedster Shannon Walker on the bench and debutant Jordan Rapana on the wing for the trip to Sydney.

Cartwright recognises it will be a tough trip for the Gold Coast who have won only one of their six past matches and are carrying an atrocious record away from home.

"They're sitting on top of the table for a very good reason they're a very good side, very well drilled, well coached and they're coming fresh off a bye," he said.

"So it's going to be one of tougher asks of the year."