KEY POINTS:
The Warriors have named Wade McKinnon to play in the crucial game against the Eels at Parramatta on Saturday night but he must sidestep the spitting allegation against him at the NRL judiciary tonight to start.
At least they have a capable replacement in Lance Hohaia, who was performing consistently well in the No 1 jersey before McKinnon's return last month after knee surgery.
Unless the judiciary accepts McKinnon's claim that he was clearing his mouth due to a double mouthguard that he wears after previously suffering a broken jaw and that the spit was in no way directed at the touch judge Brett Suttor, he will be sitting down for some time.
Commentators in Australia are predicting a 10-week ban if he is found guilty of the contrary conduct charge before the three-man panel in Sydney tonight.
Even discussion on fan websites accepts he'll get six to eight weeks.
It would be the worst possible time for the Warriors to lose their No 1 strike weapon and best kick-returner. A suspension for McKinnon would undoubtedly mean the team would play more time in their own half and offer less threat of try-scoring.
Malo Solomona is out with a shoulder injury and his place on the right wing is taken by Aidan Kirk, a useful substitute. Kirk has been out with hamstring trouble since the loss to Souths early last month and plays his 12th game. Otherwise the side named by the Warriors yesterday is the one that beat the Panthers 42-20 last Sunday.
Parramatta have also named a stable team, just the addition of Tim Robinson - younger brother of Chad - to a five-man bench. The switch of Jarryd Hayne to fullback and Luke Burt to Hayne's wing spot has worked for them but they have still lacked penetration. The loss of halfback Tim Smith and the in-and-out form of Brett Finch, who is left out after suffering a cheekbone fracture, has hurt them all season.
Also not considered through injury were Daniel Wagon, ribs, and Mark Riddell, knee, who have thus already played their last game in Eels colours.
The Warriors have won just three from 11 games across the Tasman this season against Newcastle, Wests Tigers and the Bulldogs, and just seven of 15 all-up against the Eels.
"We were all extremely disappointed with our effort against St George-Illawarra the last time we played away and we'll need to come up a long way to have a chance against Parramatta," said coach Ivan Cleary.
The Warriors sit in ninth place going into the last of 26 rounds and to make the playoffs they must beat the Eels while relying on Newcastle to fall to the Broncos in Brisbane on Friday night - quite likely - or the Bulldogs to get up and beat the Raiders in Canberra on Sunday - unlikely.
The Roosters have named former test fullback Anthony Minichiello to make his return after a bulging disc in his neck was diagnosed in June and he replaces Amos Roberts, shoulder.
They must win to hold fourth spot, otherwise that will go to Brisbane or the Dragons.
Manly are focused on winning the minor premiership. They are equal with the Storm on competition points but eight points ahead in differential, so the Storm need to win and score nine more against Souths this weekend than Manly does against Penrith.
If both lose, the Sharks can lift the JJ Giltinan Shield with a home win over North Queensland - likely.
So Manly, the Storm and Sharks will finish one, two and three but not necessarily in that order. The Roosters, Broncos and Dragons will fill the next three spots, also not necessarily in that order.
The Warriors vie with Canberra and Newcastle for spots seven and eight.
Manly's backrower Luke Williamson has signed with Harlequins for two years from 2009, joining a host of players who will appear in the NRL for the last time this weekend or in the finals series.
Gone are Tigers captain Brett Hodgson, Knights captain Danny Buderus, Dragons captain Mark Gasnier, Manly's Steve Menzies, the Storm's Michael Crocker, Penrith wing Luke Rooney and Warriors Wairangi Koopu, Logan Swann and Ruben Wiki - all former internationals.
