In the other two games, the Queensland club have been easily outclassed at WIN Stadium, the venue for Saturday night's showdown.

While Cartwright recognises that their record against St George Illawarra is worse than against any other club, he dismisses the notion they had a developing hoodoo with the Dragons.

"We've had tight games against them a couple of times," he said.

"We know we've struggled down in Wollongong, but their record in Wollongong is much better than anywhere else.

"I don't sort of buy into those ideas that we have a bogey team - the times we have played them we just haven't been good enough. We're aware of the record so far against them, but that's the test for us now on Saturday."

With the Titans coming off a victory over Newcastle on Sunday, Dragons hooker Dean Young believes Saturday's clash with the Gold Coast is the perfect test for the Wayne Bennett blueprint.

Bennett came to the club determined to instil a new level of toughness and consistency into the squad.

The Dragons showed they were prepared to take the NRL's heavyweights head on in a high-intensity first-round duel with Melbourne, won by the Storm in extra time.

The Titans came from 14-0 down to beat Newcastle 34-20, scoring three tries in seven minutes before half-time.

Gold Coast's ability to pile on the points in a short period of time will be a test of the Dragons' doctrine of playing consistent football under Bennett.

"They have a lot of unpredictable players, with Mat Rogers and Preston Campbell and the like," Young said.

"That's the thing - you can watch video all day about them, but you've got to be honest in defence because at the end of the day they can just come up with anything."