KEY POINTS:
Fullback Wade McKinnon was today named to make his return from suspension for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League preliminary final against Manly on Saturday.
McKinnon has sat out the past three weeks after being found guilty of spitting at a touch judge in the Warriors' home win over Penrith in the penultimate round of the regular season.
His reintroduction for the sudden death clash with the Sea Eagles at the Sydney Football Stadium for a place in the grand final is the only change to the Warriors' starting 13.
Utility Lance Hohaia, his replacement in the No 1 jersey in his absence, goes on to an expanded six-man bench.
The Warriors are a different side to the one that lost twice to Manly in NRL round play, coach Ivan Cleary said.
Cleary said the losses, including the thumping 52-6 at Brookvale Oval in March, won't be in the back of their minds this Saturday.
"This week's game it's a completely different thing, the stakes are higher, it's do-or-die and both sides go in with plenty of confidence," Cleary said.
He said the Warriors on the road have come up with a gameplan and even if they were "playing on Mars" they would do their best.
Hohaia, who scored two of the five Warriors tries in their 30-13 sudden-death win against Roosters last week, is philosophical about his demotion.
He said everyone is playing for the "good of the team".
It will be McKinnon's fifth appearance for the Warriors in a season interrupted by knee surgery and the three-match suspension.
Cleary said he's picked the best team and agreed that he was spoiled for choice.
Captain Steve Price said the Warriors' success this season is a culminated effort of everyone from the CEO to players who have only had the one game this year.
"That's what it takes at this time of the year. It doesn't take one person or two people or one thing or anything to turn the season around, it's a number of things by a number of people and doing it all together," Price said.
He said the Warriors were the only professional league team in the country and have a lot of fans behind them.
Price said fans have flocked to the Warriors with other sports winding down.
"Hopefully, there will be a lot of New Zealand Warriors supporters and we've had that luxury over the last season, we've had great support in Australia," Price said.
He said with the Broncos out of the finals, many Queenslanders and other Australians will now be supporting the Warriors.
"I know my Mum does and last time I checked, she was an Aussie," Price said.
Veteran Ruben Wiki said New Zealanders have gotten behind the Warriors and he hopes those living in Sydney will do the same.
"New Zealand loves winners, eh," he laughed. "They love sport and they like to see their teams winning," Wiki said.
Warriors
Wade McKinnon, Aidan Kirk, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (captain), Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Micheal Luck.
Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira, Grant Rovelli, Logan Swann, Evarn Tuimavave .
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
