David Fifita is in a race against the clock to play in the State of Origin series opener after scans confirmed a knee injury for the Queensland star.
Gold Coast's shocking start to the NRL season grew even worse on Sunday with news Fifita would miss up to four weeks with a grade two MCL sprain.
The 22-year-old limped from the field in the Titans' 18-4 loss to Penrith on Friday night, which marked their sixth defeat in eight games this year.
Scans have since confirmed the injury, with the club revealing Fifita will miss up to a month.
If Fifita is to miss that long he will not play again before Billy Slater names the Maroons' team for Origin I in Sydney on June 8.
Despite Gold Coast often criticised for their failure to get the second-rower involved in matches, Fifita has still been one of their best this season.
In a double blow for the club, the Titans have lost centre Patrick Herbert to a fractured cheekbone with medical staff weighing up whether he requires surgery.
