KEY POINTS:
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary is pleased he has a settled halves combination in Grant Rovelli and Michael Witt, while other teams are changing.
And within the squad there is excitement at Brent Tate's arrival and Simon Mannering's subsequent shift to the forwards.
Mannering is seen as one of the technically better players and it is expected he will provide the off-loads and breaks that can change a game.
Tate is confident he's over the knee injury which ruined most of last season and was pleased to get through the pre-season match against Manly.
"I was pretty relieved, really. It was a weight off my shoulders that I got that first game out of the way," he said.
"It's been a long hard road but I think now I'm starting to feel a real knee again, which is a nice feeling being a footy player when you go out to train."
He said he faced a tough task in his first NRL match for the Warriors, against last year's premiers, the Melbourne Storm.
"They're deservedly favourites again, I think they're a great team.
"I don't think there's any tougher assignment than Melbourne in Melbourne so it's going to be a huge test for us, but it's one that we're looking forward to and I guess it's a good chance to see where we're at so early."
Everyone is fit for Monday's match.
Yesterday former wrestler Ken Reinsfield instructed them in tackle techniques - all teams will have to make adjustments this season given the instruction to referees to come down heavily on "grapple" tackles around the head and neck.
The top team has run several opposed sessions against the new Toyota Cup under-20s side, with both looking sharp.
"There'll be some future stars coming out of there," a club insider said of the under-20s, tipping Ben Matulino as one, though he is out injured for their first game as the curtain-raiser in Melbourne.
The Storm are missing playmaker Greg Inglis with a shoulder injury, and Russell Aitken is filling in at five-eighth in his ninth game in the NRL.
Their rising star Israel Folau, who is off-contract at the end of this year, has been to Brisbane for talks but said he would delay a decision on his future until after the Warriors' game.
Storm captain Cameron Smith's partner Barbara gave birth to their first child, a daughter, mid-week and he expressed relief that was over so he could concentrate on the game.
* WARRIORS
Year entered premiership: 1995
Home ground: Mt Smart Stadium
Premierships: 0
Finishes over the past three years: 2007 - semifinal. 2006 - 10th. 2005 - 11th
Coach: Ivan Cleary
Captain: Steve Price
Gains: Brent Tate (Broncos), Ian Henderson (Bradford), Ryan Shortland (Melbourne)
Losses: Louis Anderson (Warrington), Todd Byrne (Hull FC), George Gatis (Huddersfield), Tony Martin (Wakefield Trinity), Corey Lawrie (Doncaster)
Money man: Steve Price: Approaching his 300th match in the NRL, Price continues to lead from the front. He is always around the league leaders for metres gained and plays big minutes, which is sure to be a plus this year with the reduction in the number of interchanges.
One to watch: Brent Tate: One of the biggest signings in the club's history, Tate gives the side exceptional strike power out wide.
