KEY POINTS:
Nathan Fien is expecting few cobwebs when he assumes the key playmaking role for the New Zealand Warriors for the first time in two years.
The Warriors host National Rugby League (NRL) leaders Manly on Sunday and Fien has been slotted back as halfback in place of regular No 7 Grant Rovelli, who has dropped out of the 17.
It is the second change of position for Fien in recent times.
He moved from his established berth of hooker to five-eighth three rounds ago to help fill the hole left by the then injured Michael Witt.
Having appeared as halfback in most of his 91 matches with previous club North Queensland, he was confident the latest transition wouldn't be too difficult.
"Obviously I haven't played there for a while and I won't be jumping straight back into my A-game," he said.
"But I'm confident with the role I play in the side anyway. Even at hooker, I'm still a ball player. It's just a bit more responsibility in the kicking game, I guess."
Fien had a spell as halfback for the Warriors early in 2006 after Stacey Jones' move to the English Super League, before being shifted to hooker.
Against Manly, he will form a new halves pairing with Witt, who is returning from six weeks out with a hip muscle injury.
Winger Manu Vatuvei is also back after seven weeks recovering from a fracture of his left calf bone.
The Sea Eagles will head to Mt Smart Stadium rested after a bye and with prolific tryscoring fullback Brett Stewart back on deck after State of Origin duty with New South Wales.
They are in hot form, with six wins in their past seven matches, including a 42-0 spanking of then competition leaders the Sydney Roosters in their last outing.
The player Fien will mark, Matt Orford, produced a top performance against the Roosters.
Orford also starred when the Sea Eagles humbled the Warriors 52-6 at Brookvale Oval in round three, directing his team-mates around the park with aplomb as well as notching up 16 points.
It's a grim result the Warriors haven't forgotten.
"We were very disappointed with that and we've spoken about it this week," Fien said.
"They gave us a bit of a hiding and that still pulls on the heart strings a bit."
The Warriors are third from bottom and coming off four losses in their past five matches.
The last was the 24-8 defeat away to Cronulla last Saturday, when they couldn't put enough points on the board during the periods when they dominated the contest.
Coach Ivan Cleary explained the shift of Fien to halfback ahead of Rovelli as a case of trying something different.
"We were sort of due for a change, that's the main thing," he said.
"Maybe a change can spark us to a better performance. We hope that combination can bring us a bit more, change the role a bit and show us some different things."
Cleary also said the Warriors wanted to build on the defensive effort they showed against Cronulla, who resorted to kicks to score their four tries.
"If we put our best foot forward, then it gives us a chance against anyone," he said.
"But obviously Manly are one of the top sides and have run into some good form and have all their troops on board, so it will be a tough ask."
- NZPA
