KEY POINTS:
There will be no shortage of intensity at Mt Smart tonight as the Broncos fight to hold on to a top-four position and win a home game to open the finals while the Warriors try to crash the playoff eight.
The number of teams pressing closely means failure could spell disaster.
Contests between these two teams are always entertaining, with plenty of points, and this promises more of the same.
Showers and a cold southerly are forecast. While the Broncos won't enjoy that, the Warriors may have preferred the cold sleet of a fortnight ago when they ground down champions Melbourne.
Coach Ivan Cleary has beefed up the attack not just with the return of fullback Wade McKinnon but also with the reintroduction of Michael Witt at five-eighth to improve the kicking game and the return of Jerome Ropati to his regular spot in the centres.
Wrecking ball Epalahame Lauaki comes back after demotion to the Auckland Vulcans and can be expected to have a big game as he fights for a place in what is now almost a fully-fit 25-man squad.
They flew in without four top players - lock Tonie Carroll who has a leg injury, his would-be replacement David Stagg who has since withdrawn as his wife Tamika is due to give birth to their first child, test centre Justin Hodges who is banned for two weeks, and World Cup squad member Sam Thaiday who missed Wednesday's training when he slept in and has been suspended by the club.
Stagg may fly in late if the birth goes well and he has time. Otherwise its likely Kiwi utility Greg Eastwood will shift up from the bench to lock and Ashton Sims to the second row.
The action against Thaiday follows similar stand-downs for prop Dave Taylor and Eastwood.
Hodges was in his second game back last weekend after a six-week suspension when he made a derogatory gesture behind referee Tony Archer's back after a decision went against the Broncos. Hodges has also been disciplined by the club, which is disappointed in his time off the field.
Broncos captain Darren Lockyer told the Brisbane Courier-Mail there was a determination among senior players to ensure they maintained focus on the finals.
"There's a small group of senior forwards who have made a pact and what has happened to Sammy is part of their rules. It's a case of short, sharp pain for long-term gain. You've got to send the right message to everyone. The biggest penalty you can have when you are dropped from a team is to be stopped from playing footy."
The Warriors are six from nine at home, the Broncos four wins and a draw from 10 away games.
The increasing depth of Kiwis in the NRL is demonstrated in the Broncos under-20s squad, which includes former Aucklanders Alex Glenn from Northcote, Shaun Cotter from Otahuhu, and Leon Panapa from Te Atatu.
Mt Smart Stadium, 7.30 tonight
WARRIORS
Lance Hohaia
Malo Solomona
Brent Tate
Sonny Fai
Aidan Kirk
Nathan Fien
Grant Rovelli
Ruben Wiki
Ian Henderson
Steve Price (c)
Simon Mannering
Logan Swann
Micheal Luck
BRONCOS (POS)
Karmichael Hunt
Denan Kemp
Darius Boyd
Joel Moon
Kaine Manihera
Darren Lockyer (c)
Peter Wallace
Ben Hannant
Michael Ennis
Joel Clinton
Corey Parker
Ashton Sims
Greg Eastwood Warriors: Jerome Ropati, Evarn Tuimavave, Sam Rapira, Ben Matulino, 18th man Manu Vatuvei.
Broncos: Nick Kenny, David Taylor, Isaak Ah Mau, Derrick Watkins.
