The Warriors were to be told last night whether centre Nigel Vagana would face a charge over an incident where he appeared to come late into a tackle that ended with Norths' Adam Muir falling over Oudenryn and suffering a cut to the head.
The Warriors expect to hear today how long talented second-rower Awen Guttenbeil will be out after he undergoes surgery on his broken ankle. They are otherwise set for the trip to Brookvale, where they are certain to meet a home side seeking to regain some pride and fired up by a furious Bob Fulton, their coach.
Four Warriors are among those named in the Auckland North squad and two others join Auckland South for the opening round of the national provincial competition this weekend.
Shane Endacott and new signings Peter Lewis, Cliff Beverley and scholarship player Henry Perenara go to Dominic Clark's North side and join 10 players from Fox champions Glenora in the opening game against Waikato at Carlaw Park on Friday night.
The size of the Bears' contingent might have a backlash for them in the Roope Rooster semifinal against big improvers Hibiscus Coast on Sunday.
Clark said there was new interest in the provincial competition now that the Warriors' door appeared to have been opened to graduates from the local competition.
I've certainly told my team that and there are some who are motivated by that opportunity, he said.
Another Warrior making a return from injury, Bryan Henare, and junior Clinton Toopi are in Stan Hill's Souths with a core of talent, including Charlie Kennedy, Esau Mann and Tama Hohaia from Hill's Mangere East club. They play Bay of Plenty in Rotorua on Saturday.
Auckland North: Jarrod Trott (Northcote), Steve Matthews (Glenora), Peter Lewis, David Bailey (Glenora), Bopycie Nelson (Glenora), Len Macginley (Hibiscus), Aaron Tucker (Glenora), Reece Guy (Hibiscus), Junior Fiu (Glenora), Brett Kinbgham (Glenora), Kosta Malamatinos (Glenora), Richard White (Hibiscus), Keneti Asiata (Northcote), Wairangi Koopu (Glenora), Greg Ashby (Glenora), Henry Perenara, Cliff Beverley, Lee Weatherill (Marist/Bay Roskill), Clinton Pouesi (Glenora), Jamie Cook (Northcote), Shane Endacott.
Auckland South: Tama Hohaia (Mangere East), Corey Palmer (Otahuhu), Charlie Kennedy (Mangere East), Ben Fahey (Otahuhu), Loni Filimeohala (Otahuhu), Fergie Edwrads (Mangere East), Gus Malietoa-Brown (Tornadoes), Lionel Pereira (Manurewa), Scott Welsh (Manurewa), Dean Clark (Otahuhu), Channerith Ly (Manurewa), Shane Edwrads (Otahuhu), Gaivin Welsh (Manurewa), Sam Hanson (Ellersllie), Eric Pele (Manukau), Jason Arama (Manurewa), Esau Mann (Mangere East), Bryan Henare, Phillip Leuleai (Otahuhu), Sinave Gasu (Otahuhu), Clinton Toopi, Wayne Barnett (Manurewa), Herman Lomafa (Mangere East), Eneasi Finefeuiaki (Mangere East), Aleo Kapua (Ellerslie).