Representative forward Greg Bird says if Gold Coast gatecrash NRL the top eight in September they will hit the finals on the back of some hot form.

Buoyed by their breakthrough victory over Brisbane last week, the Titans will look to build more finals momentum against the equally desperate Sydney Roosters on Friday night.

A win is imperative for both sides as the battle for the eighth and last spot heats up.

The Titans are one of five teams locked on 20 points, a win outside the top eight, but that could change if Wests Tigers lose to North Queensland on Monday night.

They have a reasonably difficult run into the finals with games against an in-form South Sydney (home), the stuttering Storm (away), Parramatta (home), Penrith on the road and finally a crunch round 26 clash against defending premiers Manly at home.

“I think we’re getting back to that form when we were beating the top teams, the Cowboys, Manly, the Bulldogs and the like,” said Bird on Monday.

“If we hold that form and get all our players back on board we can be a force at the top of the table.”

Bird said he didn’t want to risk the rest of the season by playing with an injured pectoral muscle against Brisbane last week.

“That’s the reason I didn’t play last week because it was cutting it fine but I’ve had another week under my belt and I’ll be fine (against the Roosters),” he said after doing some extra training on Monday.

“It should be fine. It’s only when the arms goes all the way back, so if I don’t get chicken winged I should be sweet.”

If Ashley Harrison (broken toe) and Nate Myles (bruised sternum) are cleared along with Bird, it gives the Titans one of the best back-rows in the competition.

“I think our forward pack in general are quite tough, you throw Luke Bailey and Luke Douglas in there as well and it’s pretty formidable,” he said.

Bird said Bailey had been playing with his rib cartilage “almost torn off”.

“He’s inspirational. He’s got that painful injury but he’s leading the hit-ups and tackles and also our kick chases.”