Sooner or later NRL surprise packet the Gold Coast’s luck will run out, Titans backrower Chris McQueen has warned.

The Titans can potentially grab NRL top spot with victory in Friday night’s derby clash with Brisbane on the Gold Coast.

Not bad for the bookies’ pre-season wooden spoon favourites.

But it seems they haven’t convinced Titans recruit McQueen.

The former Queensland forward reckons the Gold Coast have been lucky to jump to a 3-1 season start.

And he reckons their good fortune will run out if they don’t put together an 80-minute effort for the first time against Brisbane.

“The last couple of games we have been lucky to get away with it,” McQueen said.

“The last two weeks we have given up a 10 point lead and managed to get back into the game.

“We know against the Broncos if you give up 10 points early it will be really hard to come back.”

The Titans have conceded halftime deficits before staging gutsy comeback wins in their last two games.

Gold Coast left it late in their last round 24-20 victory in Canberra, trailing 20-6 with 15 minutes left to play.

But McQueen reckoned a look at their round two 34-16 loss in Melbourne may be a better indication of what was to come on Friday night if they didn’t start well.

“We didn’t play for 80 minutes against Melbourne and they put a good score on us,” he said.

“We certainly haven’t played 80 minutes of football yet.

“We know we will have to do that if we want to be competitive against Brisbane.”

Gold Coast have registered just two wins in their past 13 clashes against Brisbane.

But the early omens are good for the Titans ahead of Friday night’s derby.

Scans on Tyrone Roberts’ knee hurt in Canberra showed no significant ligament damage but ex-Bronco Cameron Cullen is still on standby for the pivot.

And starting prop Ryan James was cleared to play after he successfully contested a grade one dangerous contact charge at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night.