League: Dogs have less bite and Warriors are hungry

The Bulldogs that come to play the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow are not the fearsome, all-powerful side of seasons past.

Release of players and inability to buy stars following the salary cap scandal and a series of in-house dramas involving players seem to have robbed the Dogs of the passion they used to use to steam-roll opponents.

The club had more trouble this week with five-eighth Reni Maitua ditched from the squad after being arrested for drink-driving close to midnight on Anzac Day.

Maitua, 23, is on a probationary licence, which prohibits any alcohol intake. He drank and played two-up with team mates before being arrested on his way home. He is due in court on May 18.

The Bulldogs immediately pulled him out of the Warriors game and suspended negotiations to extend his contract, which expires at the end of this season.

Ben Roberts goes to five-eight and Daniel Holdsworth stays at halfback.

Andrew Emelio has been ruled out with a knee injury and is replaced by Cameron Phelps.

Not the sort of preparation you want for a tough game. And it will be tough. The Warriors have lost their last two games to the Dogs in Auckland but are showing a new resolve to win at home.

Their last moves at mid-week training were simple defensive line drills, an indication they want to ensure a quick shift off the 10m line.

The Warriors have no injury concerns with those named on Tuesday. The team is the same that beat Souths 46-14 last Sunday, the Dogs battling to a 26-18 win over the Rabbitohs two weekends ago.

The Warriors had been confident in their own ability all season, said assistant coach John Ackland, but in the Souths contest they showed attacking prowess that hadn't been seen for a while. The Dogs had their backs to the wall "and traditionally that's when they are dangerous".

Ackland was instrumental in sending Sonny Bill Williams and Roy Asotasi to the Dogs when acting as a talent scout between stints at the Warriors. His knowledge of their play did not offer any special insights, he said.

"I'm sure they'll play well."

Those two are assured test selection for the Kiwis, another former Aucklander in Matt Utai will be looking to regain his test wing spot and a fourth in Willie Mason will be looking for a Kangaroos jersey.

Kiwis captain Ruben Wiki was looking forward to a hard contest up front. But he and Ackland said it was the Warriors' play they had to worry about, not the Dogs'.

"We want to build a home record, something the fans can be proud of," Ackland said.