Gold Coast are facing a halves crisis with Scott Prince and Greg Bird confronting major hurdles to play in Friday night's NRL showdown with the North Queensland in Townsville.

Scan results on Prince's injured hamstring will be known on Tuesday while on Monday Bird was hit with a grade one striking charge after appearing to collect Canberra halfback Matt Orford with a forearm in the Titans' 23-22 win over the Raiders.

The Titans have until midday on Tuesday to notify the NRL if they plan to fight the charge.

Even though it's a low grade, Bird, who has carry over points, would still miss the clash if he takes an early guilty plea.

If he fights the charge and loses, he still only misses a week.

With the injury cloud over Prince and with utility ace Preston Campbell (knee) sidelined, the club may be forced to try and defend Bird or risk going up against an in-form Cowboys pairing of Johnathan Thurston and Ray Thompson with an untried halves combination.

Fullback William Zillman jumped into halfback when Campbell was injured in the second half against the Raiders and South Sydney recruit Luke Capewell played five-eighth in the club's opening few games of the season.

Young winger David Mead could play fullback at a pinch.

Prince had praised Bird's display at five-eighth in his absence against the Raiders before the judiciary charge was known.

The former NSW pivot, who many believe is more damaging and intimidating in the second-row, threw the final overhead pass for forward Anthony Laffranchi who scored a converted try that tied the match at 22-all with seconds remaining.

Bird then neatly slotted the game-winning field goal in golden point from a scrum win.

"I thought he played a traditional five-eighth game," Prince said.

"He took the line on when it was time to take it on, he looked to shift when it was time to shift, it was a really good balance and he kicked really well.

"It was just a typical five-eighth role."

Prince said he would be disappointed to miss the chance of going up against Thurston.

"We'll have to wait and see, it's all positive signs at the moment," he said before heading off for scans.

"I had a run this morning and it seems to have pulled up ok.

"I've got scans this afternoon and that will tell us exactly what's going and give us some positive news."

The possible returns from injury of hard working lock Ashley Harrison and busy hooker Nathan Friend would be massive in helping shut down the running games of Thurston, Matt Bowen and Aaron Payne.

Prince said the players could use the win over Canberra as a springboard to getting their season back on track against the Cowboys.

"We showed some guts and grit at the weekend and with a few guys coming back things may be starting to fall into place a little, although we can't rest on that," he said.

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