Jerome Ropati is in the frame for a return to the Warriors side after having been included in an extended bench to face Penrith at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday.
The centre, who is off contract at the end of the season, played against the Storm and Titans in rounds seven and eight before injury hit again and has worked his way back into form with the Vulcans in recent weeks.
He missed their last outing last weekend, instead travelling to Gosford to provide cover for the NRL side against Manly and has been included as 18th man against the Panthers.
The right-edge defence has been a concern for the Warriors all season but it was the left edge which was exposed in the 27-12 defeat to Manly on Sunday and Ropati offers considerable experience as the pressure to make the top eight mounts. The Warriors probably need to win their last four games to secure a spot in the top eight but go into the match on the back of consecutive defeats.
They take on a Penrith outfit who have lost their last four games in convincing fashion - Newcastle (14-32), Cronulla (10-38), the Sydney Roosters (6-42) and North Queensland (4-36) - but hammered the Warriors 62-6 the last time the two sides met.