A few weeks ago it was viewed as a battle to decide the NRL's top eight, but now it's all about pride when the Gold Coast Titans take on Wests Tigers on Sunday.

After a spectacular start to the year, the Titans season has unravelled amid a stack of injuries and an inability to win away from home, while the Tigers' recent form has been nothing short of woeful.

The Tigers are coming off three consecutive hidings, when they should have had so much to play for.

It is the third year in a row Wests have crashed and burned in the closing rounds to miss the play-offs since their fairytale premiership in 2005, prompting coach Tim Sheens to threaten an off-season clean-out.

Despite having no chance at the finals, Cartwright said his charges would have plenty of reason to aim up against the Tigers at Skilled Park.

"It's a little bit of a bitter taste that we are not going to be playing finals footy, but the players will still be putting in," Cartwright said.

They cherish every game they can get at this level.

Adding extra spice is the number of former Tigers in the Gold Coast side, including State of Origin forward Anthony Laffranchi, who is looking forward for a shot at his old club.

"I wasn't there when we played them earlier this season (when the Tigers prevailed 20-18 at Leichhardt Oval) so I'm really looking forward to it," he said.

"I always enjoy playing against them."

Sunday's match marks the final NRL appearance of gutsy Tigers skipper Brett Hodgson and Laffranchi said he had sent his old team-mate a text during the week - with minimal sledging.

"I didn't want to bag him too much in case he ends up stepping past me," he said.

"He's a pretty elusive little guy."

The Titans also farewell a host of off-contract players, including hooker Clint Amos, a local junior who is off to the Cowboys next season.

After losing regular hooker Nathan Friend to suspension through the week, the Titans suffered a further blow on Friday when co-captain Luke Bailey was ruled out from his long-awaited comeback after pulling up sore following Thursday's team run.

The Tigers also have a host of players out, including game-breaking hooker Robbie Farah, but they welcome back clever prop Todd Payten after a judiciary-enforced spell in the stands.

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