Finals - it may not quite be a dirty word for the Gold Coast Titans but the NRL club doesn't exactly want to discuss it despite their flying start to the 2009 NRL season.

Fresh from their second bye in four weeks, the Titans head into their final run home in the regular season sitting pretty with a share of the ladder lead.

But mention the "f" word to Prince and he almost recoils.

"Nah, not talking that. We have learned that from the last two years," Prince said.

"Next game is the (New Zealand) Warriors (on Saturday night), that's all we are worried about.

"Being on top of the ladder at this stage means nothing."

Clearly the Titans are still smarting from starting their first two seasons with a bang - then crashing out of top eight contention just as spectacularly.

"We started the last two seasons with pretty good form. We won early - it's the back end of our season that we need to work hard on," Prince said.

"We are in a good position to build a pretty good foundation."

Despite enjoying a 9-4 record to share the NRL ladder lead with the Dragons and the Bulldogs, Prince claimed the Titans had not yet strung together a consistent 80 minute performance.

"It's similar to our seasons (of the past). We seem to start well in the game but we can't finish teams off," he said.

"It is frustrating but I would rather be able to win ugly than play well and not have a win."

The Titans will need to dig deep again against the Warriors at Skilled Park on Saturday night.

Without key forwards Luke Bailey (broken arm) and Mark Minichiello (ankle) and a question mark over Mat Rogers (ribs), the Titans will line up against a Warriors outfit (11th; 5-1-7 record) desperate to keep their finals hopes alive.

"It's another challenge that we're faced with," Prince said.

"But we've overcome a lot of those challenges this year with key players missing due to injury and winning away from home was another one.

"But we know we will be waking up pretty sore on Sunday."

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