KEY POINTS:
The Warriors will have few friends when they play their first game against the Gold Coast Titans in front of a capacity crowd at Carrara Stadium tonight.
They will have confidence after a tough away win in Cronulla and the dismantling of the Panthers last weekend and can be expected to try to repeat the off-loading and support play that brought last weekend's success.
Coach Ivan Cleary said Louis Anderson and Epalahame Lauaki operated well on the fringes against Penrith and that provided another dimension to their attack. He is looking for more of the same and better.
The Titans' big danger is halfback Scott Prince. Cleary said Prince's old club, the Tigers, knew his play better than anyone but he still hurt them when winning two weekends ago. Prince would score or set others up - he couldn't be stopped so had to be matched on points.
Which all points to an entertaining, running game.
The problem for Prince is that he will not enjoy the go-forward he has had as the Titans have amassed a record of nine wins and six losses.
His co-captain and forward leader, Luke Bailey, is with the New South Wales team for State of Origin and the Titans' second-best ground-gainer and top tackler, Anthony Laffranchi, is out with a knee injury. Laffranchi has recorded 261 carries this season - behind Warriors captain Steve Price's 267, whose absence - also because of Origin - will hurt.
It is the first time, though, that the Titans have had to play without Bailey and Laffranchi and coach John Cartwright acknowledged that it was a worry.
The only injury concern he had was over Jake Webster but the Kiwis' wing is expected to play.
The Titans are six-from-seven at Cararra and the bulk of the 18,000 sell-out crowd will be cheering for them to make it seven-from-eight.
Ruben Wiki has declared himself fit to step up to the Warrirors captaincy after time off with a rib injury.
TITANS
Preston Campbell
Matt Petersen
Mat Rogers
Brett Delaney
Jake Webster
Josh Lewis
Scott Prince (c)
Jason Stosic
Nathan Friend
Ian Donnelly
Luke Swain
Mark Minichiello
Matt Hilder
Reserves: Luke O'Dwyer, Michael Hodgson, Gavin Cooper, Clint Amos, Kris Kahler.
WARRIORS
Wade McKinnon
Patrick Ah Van
Todd Byrne
Simon Mannering
Manu Vatuvei
Michael Witt
Grant Rovelli
Ruben Wiki (c)
Nathan Fien
Evarn Tuimavave
Louis Anderson
Logan Swann
Micheal Luck
Reserves: George Gatis, Lance Hohaia, Wairangi Koopu, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira.
