KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Warriors today made four changes to their starting 13 to face the Sydney Roosters in a National Rugby League (NRL) match in Auckland on Sunday.
The Warriors will welcome back centre Brent Tate from Queensland State of Origin duty and five-eighth Michael Witt from injury.
Witt was a late scratching from the side who lost 22-46 away to Penrith last weekend after failing to recover in time from a hip problem suffered a fortnight earlier in the win over Canberra.
Ryan Shortland and Wairangi Koopu make way for Tate and Witt, dropping out of the 17.
In other changes, Aidan Kirk gets the chance to notch his second NRL appearance, coming in at wing for Michael Crockett, while Nathan Fien has been named as starting hooker.
Fien was also listed to start against the Panthers, but Ian Henderson ended up beginning the match.
With skipper Steve Price still out with a hamstring injury and vice-captain Ruben Wiki again named on the bench, lock Micheal Luck stands in as skipper for the fourth consecutive match.
Coach Ivan Cleary has named a seven-match bench, which includes two players yet to make their first-grade debut in winger Malo Solomona and second rower Ben Matulino.
The Roosters, who are third on the standings, are coming off a 32-12 victory over Parramatta despite fielding a State of Origin-depleted side.
The Warriors are 12th, their defeat against Penrith being their fifth in succession away from home.
While the Auckland-based side have not been able to win on the road so far this year, they are unbeaten at home at Mt Smart Stadium.
New Zealand Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Aidan Kirk, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Patrick Ah Van, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Sam Rapira, Nathan Fien, Evarn Tuimavave, Simon Mannering, Epalahame Lauaki, Micheal Luck (captain).
Interchange (three to be omitted): Ian Henderson, Ruben Wiki, Logan Swann, Sonny Fai, Russell Packer, Ben Matulino, Malo Solomona.
- NZPA
