KEY POINTS:
The Warriors look to continue their giant killing run in the NRL finals series when they take on the Sydney Roosters at a packed Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland tonight.
The Warriors captured the hearts of the New Zealand sporting public last week when they upset defending premiers the Melbourne Storm 18-15, becoming the first eighth-place qualifier to beat the No 1 side since the NRL adopted the top eight McIntyre finals system in 1999.
The Warriors will have 26,000 fans cheering them on tonight and on the back of their strong home form this season, expectation is high that they will win - the TAB has the Warriors priced at $1.47 favourites to the Roosters' $2.50.
However, the Roosters did not finish fourth for nothing and have a brutal forward pack led by the NSW halves pairing of Mitchell Pearce and Braith Anasta.
nzherald.co.nz has everything you need to know about tonight's big game, including Herald league writer Peter Jessup's gameplan for victory, the Warriors' Roosters connection and Kiwis legend Ruben Wiki's final goodbye to Mt Smart.
In his weekly column, Dean Lonergan says the Warriors have momentum on their side but must deal with being favourites - something they have not coped well with in the past, Chris Rattue talks to the man calling tonight's game, television commentator Jason Costigan, while Warriors centre Brent Tate, a veteran of eight consecutive finals campaigns including a premiership with the Broncos, says the buzz in Auckland is as big as he's ever witnessed.
Also don't forget to check out all our photo galleries, including pictures of the last time the Warriors and Roosters met in a finals game, the top 10 Warriors games ever and the players who will take the field tonight.
THE FACTS
*The Roosters have scored 40 per cent of their tries, 38 in total, from kicks, the highest of any NRL side.
*They make an average 29 metres per kick, kicking 476 times for 13,995m
*Completion rate 659/952 or 69 per cent.
*Missed tackles 828, average 33 per game
*The Warriors have scored 24 tries down the left side. Left wing Manu Vatuvei is top try-scorer with 15, left centre Jerome Ropati second-best on nine.
*Gain from 475 kicks was 12,021 metres or 25 metres per kick.
*Completion rate 674 of 927, average 73 per cent.
*Missed tackles 737, average 29 per game.
*Last game Roosters won 38-12 Mt Smart Round 11
*2007 31-all Sydney Football Stadium
*2006 Warriors 42-16 Mt Smart, Warriors 22-12 SFS
*Only previous finals game the grandfinal 2002, Roosters won 30-8.
*All-up record 21 games, 10 wins each and the 31-all draw.
*Sportsbet Australia Warriors A$1.63 Roosters A$2.30, TAB NZ Warriors $1.47, Roosters $2.50
Warriors
Lance Hohaia, Aiden Kirk, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (capt), Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Grant Rovelli, Evarn Tuimavave, Sam Rapira, Logan Swann
Roosters
Anthony Minichiello, Brent Grose, Setaimata Sa, Sia Soliola, Sam Perrett, Braith Anasta (capt), Mitchell Pearce, Mark O'Meley, James Aubusson, Lopini Paea, Nate Myles, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon. Interchange: Mickey Paea, David Shillington, Anthony Cherrington, Mitchell Aubusson.
Referee: Tony Archer
