GOLD Coast chief executive Graham Annesley will keep the club’s captaincy announcement a closely guarded secret until Thursday when the Titans launch their most anticipated season and 10-year celebration for the club.

Local junior and reigning club champ Ryan James is a certainty to be rewarded with his significant maturity and growth as a player by being handed the honour to lead the club in 2017.

It is widely expected the Titans will continue with the co-captaincy model employed by coach Neil Henry in 2016 when Nathan Friend and Will Zillman led the club back to the finals.

While Zillman and Jarryd Hayne both have NRL captaincy experience, Kiwi Test star Kevin Proctor has raced into calculations and seems destined to join James as leader of the club.

Proctor, like James, is a local Gold Coast junior and both came through renowned league nursery Palm Beach Currumbin High School.

Such a pairing would be perfect symmetry for the Titans as they embark upon a new chapter of their club history, giving the club a firm grip as a truly local team with local leaders.

Annesley however was giving nothing away on the appointment last night.

“Our position hasn’t changed. At this stage we are keeping our announcement until Thursday,” he said.

“I don’t believe anyone from the club has confirmed anything.”

This week shapes as a busy week for the Titans, with the new captain also expected to attend the NRL season launch in Sydney on Thursday morning before flying back for the club function at Parkwood the same evening.

Meanwhile, retired Titans hooker Nathan Friend has endorsed Tyrone Roberts as the man to wear the No.9 jersey if Nathan Peats is unable to line up in the season opener against the Roosters next weekend.

The Titans are sweating on the results of scans to be conducted on Peats’ shoulder today which are likely to determine whether he requires ­surgery.

Peats is understood to have subluxated his shoulder in Sunday’s trial against the Warriors, with scans set to determine whether he suffered significant damage to the joint capsule and surrounding tendons when the injury occurred.

Regardless of the extent of the damage, he is understood to be in extreme doubt for Round 1. But Friend believes Roberts, who stepped into the role on Sunday with Peats and back-up rake Pat Politoni (broken arm) both off the field, could be a short-term option for the Titans.

“I thought Tyrone may be good to inject off the bench for 10-15 minutes (at hooker) but it’s a whole different ball game if you’re on there for 60 or 80 minutes,’’ Friend said.

But if Peats is only out for a limited period, Roberts could be the man.

“I’m sure if Tyrone was to be put in there he could handle it really well,’’ he said.

But if Peats is out for an extended period, Friend has called on coach Neil Henry to hand a specialist rake a chance.

“This is where young guys get their opportunity,” he said. “I guess he’s got to search a little deeper ... look for an athlete that plays in that position and give him his opportunity.’’

With Politoni and makeshift rake Ryan Simpkins (ribs) also out injured, Kane Lawton could get his chance to play extended minutes.

“He knows the role and what’s required, that’s half the battle and I daresay he’s got his head around a few of the plays,’’ Friend said.