As painful as it was, wily utility Preston Campbell reckoned he could find some positives from his month-long absence from the battling Gold Coast Titans.

The discomfort in his knee was difficult enough but it was nothing compared to watching his beloved Titans slump to a 2-5 record ahead of Saturday's NRL clash with Sydney Roosters.

Still, Campbell believes his grandstand seat gave him valuable insight into just what they were doing wrong - and how to fix it.

"Sitting on the sideline when the boys aren't playing that well makes it worse - it's heartache, you can't do anything about it," Campbell said.

"(But) you do pick up a few things that you otherwise wouldn't on a footy field.

"I would like to go back out there and explain to the boys a couple of things I have seen so I guess it is good in a way looking at it like that."

Campbell is set to replace fullback Luke Capewell after moving freely at training on Friday.

Campbell will give a final verdict on his fitness to coach John Cartwright on Saturday morning, but much can be read into the fact Capewell did not train with the squad on Friday.

The maestro's return can't come soon enough.

Cartwright hinted that the Gold Coast would not have lost the bulk of their 2010 matches if Campbell's "cool head" had been present - especially in their last round shocker against Parramatta.

"The fact was we were in a winnable position with two minutes to go and we let it go," Cartwright said of the last minute defeat to the Eels.

"We are not playing all that well, we understand that.

"But we firmly believe if we put a good 20 to 30 minutes together that will get us back into form.

"(And) Presto is a real cool head, the sort of player players love playing with."

The Titans go up against a Roosters outfit also arriving at Skilled Park with a 2-5 record - but arguably with more baggage.

Apart from their poor form, last year's grand finalists are also reeling from the indefinite suspensions of Todd Carney and Anthony Watts while forward Nate Myles (Titans) and back-row partner Tom Symonds (Parramatta) have been linked to other clubs.

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