Cronulla players are confident they can overcome the most tumultuous week in the club’s history and win their NRL season opener against the Gold Coast on Sunday night.

The angry and shell shocked playing group only put thoughts of a boycott to bed on match eve.

But several Sharks stars say that despite the turmoil stemming from ASADA’s investigation into alleged drug breaches, they’re in the right frame of mind to record an important victory against the Titans, which they will dedicate to their loyal fans and fallen staff members.

On another dramatic day at Sharks Stadium on Saturday, angry fans made their feelings clear and media gathered in the car park adjacent to the ground were at one point peppered with eggs by a passing vehicle.

Numerous supporters driving by throughout the morning screamed out their support for the players and condemned the Sharks board.

Few NRL teams have been forced to endure a more morale-crushing preparation for a match, but after dismissing talk of strike action, Sharks players emerged from their final training session determined.

“We’re ready to go, that’s the main thing,” winger Jonathan Wright told AAP.

“We’re one team. All the boys stick together. It’s about turning up on Sunday ready to play footy. That’s what we’re here for, that’s what we love doing, so we can’t wait.

“We hope the fans get there and support the team. We really need it.”

Prior to this week’s explosive developments, the Sharks were considered firm favourites for the NRL top four.

But hopes have now plummeted.

As many as 14 players who were part of the club’s 2011 season are believed to be weighing up whether to admit they inadvertently took banned substances and accept six month bans.

The playing group is also angry that the club sacked four football staff members and stood down popular coach Shane Flanagan.

Still, star playmaker Todd Carney believed the players would get through the drama.

“We’ll stick together. We’ve been through tough times before so as a group we have prepared well and we’re looking forward to tomorrow,” he said.

Perhaps only Canterbury players in 2002 and Melbourne players in 2010 could empathise with what the Sharks are going through.

The Bulldogs and Storm players were forced to play on with no chance of making the finals, after their clubs were stripped of all their competition points in those years due to salary cap breaches.

The week after Canterbury were wiped out, they lost narrowly to Canberra.

However Melbourne bounced back for an emphatic victory over the Warriors.

The Sharks playing group has no idea what awaits but Flanagan says hope is not lost for 2013.

“I don’t think this year is wasted. We haven’t even played our first game yet. All is not lost,” Flanagan told Fox Sports.

The Sharks squad, led by interim coach Peter Sharp, trained on Saturday morning, and they are expected to field a full strength team to face the Titans.

“We’re playing tomorrow and we’re going to get out there and do our best for the five people who are no longer here and for ourselves,” said captain Paul Gallen.