League: Matulino to start for Warriors

Warriors player Ben Matulino will start in the front row for the match against the Rabbitohs this weekend. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Kiwi international Ben Matulino has been named to start in the front row in the Vodafone Warriors for their 11th-round encounter with the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday.

He comes into the starting line-up for experienced team-mate Jacob Lillyman, who is unavailable for this weekend's match after being recalled to the Queensland side for the opening match of this year's State of Origin series against New South Wales in Brisbane on May 25.

Matulino will be making his 69th NRL appearance alongside fellow starting prop Russell Packer, both being foundation players for the Vodafone Junior Warriors in their first NYC campaign in 2008.

In other changes to the combination that started in Sunday's 25-16 win against Newcastle, Lewis Brown has been listed to start in the centres with Aaron Heremaia back as starting hooker after missing the last two games following a family tragedy.

The rest of the starting line-up is the same as the one used against the Knights.

Alehana Mara, who had his second NRL start at hooker, is included among seven players on the interchange bench. Also named are utility Lance Hohaia and Jeremy Latimore, who were both on the interchange bench last week, plus Shaun Berrigan, Ukuma Ta'ai, Sione Lousi and Ukuma Ta'ai.

Cleary said the whole club was thrilled Lillyman had been recalled to the Queensland side after last playing Origin in 2008.

"It's brilliant for Jake and also for the club. Jake has worked so hard for this and he's made a great job of transforming himself into a front rower after coming to the club as a second rower," said Cleary.

Earlier this season Lillyman, now in his third campaign with the Vodafone Warriors, played his 100th NRL game. Previously Kevin Campion, PJ Marsh, Steve Price and Brent Tate have been selected for the Maroons while playing for the Vodafone Warriors.

Cleary said Brown was expected to recover from a minor knee injury which forced him off the field during last weekend's clash against the Knights. He said the interchange bench wouldn't be confirmed until closer to game time.

The Vodafone Warriors head into Sunday's match having won six of their last seven matches including the last four on end. They have their first bye in round 12.

Sitting sixth on 12 points, they're just two points ahead of 10th-placed South Sydney. In their last two matches the Rabbitohs have put together impressive victories over Cronulla and Wests Tigers.

"The Rabbitohs were outstanding against the Tigers and have plenty of players who can hurt you," said Cleary.

"While we've been pleased to put some wins together, we still have a long way to go to put together the level of performance we want. Souths will provide a bigger test again from what we faced in our last two games away."

Second rower Feleti Mateo plays his 99th career match on Sunday and Brown his 49th.