League: Wesser in doubt for clash at Mt Smart

Roy Asotasi says the Warriors will be disappointed after their loss to the Broncos last week but the Rabbitohs are ready for them and it should be an impressive match. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors v Rabbitohs
Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm tomorrow

Souths fullback Rhys Wesser's knee injury makes him an unlikely starter in tomorrow's clash with the Warriors at Mt Smart.

That means the Warriors have just four dynamic game-breakers to worry about in halves Chris Sandow, who destroyed them at the same venue last year; and John Sutton, who is in top form; Isaac Luke at hooker and off-loading captain Roy Asotasi and then Craig Wing off the bench.

The Souths side of 2009 is very different from those put together after the club re-entered the NRL in 2002.

They have go-forward, the likes of Asotasi and David Fa'alogo to generate second-phase play with power breaks and off-loads and then clever halves. Out wide, Feleti Talanoa and Nathan Merritt are two of the fastest in the NRL.

"We can't afford to start slowly against the Warriors," said this week.

And nor can the Warriors afford to start slowly and concede 10-point starts as they have in their past two games.

The event is overshadowed by the memorials planned for Sonny Fai, who was swept to sea after saving relatives while swimming at Bethells Beach on January 4. Family continue to hope his body will be found.

The four competing teams, Souths and Warriors under-20s and the top sides, will line up for one minute's silence before kick-off. Performers including Tiki Taane and Fai's Otahuhu church choir, plus his school and surf lifesaving, are part of the celebration of Fai's life.

The crowd can buy armbands created by Warriors fan David Taylor and a Panthers fan, Michael Treacy, and buy raffle tickets, proceeds of both going to Fai's family.

The Warriors feel the loss of their up-and-coming star keenly - he scored five tries in 15 games last season - but remember him as a fun character. His passing will provide potent motivation tomorrow.

Wesser was listed as "50:50" by the Rabbitohs football staff yesterday after missing last week's game but the rest of their squad is fit and fired up for a trip to Auckland, where they won 35-28 last year.

Their danger man this season has been five-eighth Sutton, with steps, cut-out passes and off-loads. Last week it was Wing's injection off the bench that turned the game for them, initiating two tries as they came from 12-0 down to win 22-12.

So far this year, Souths have averaged 1380 metres gain, while the Warriors have run 1275. Of more concern is the kick statistic which shows that the Rabbitohs gain 534m a game to the Warriors' 393.

The home team cannot afford mistakes like sending kick-offs dead, nor can they turn over the ball early in the tackle count as they did in last week's loss to Brisbane.

Though there is just the one side with three wins from three so far this season, the Broncos, the real test is yet to come as teams settle to the grind, and injuries and suspensions bite.

The Warriors will be eager to play well and stay close if they do lose because next week's trip to Newcastle will be no breeze and they also have the Storm and Dragons away before the bye before the test match.

WARRIORS V RABBITOHS

Warriors:

Wade McKinnon
Denan Kemp
Patrick Ah Van
Jerome Ropati
Aidan Kirk
Joel Moon
Stacey Jones
Sam Rapira
Ian Henderson
Russell Packer
Simon Mannering
Jacob Lillyman
Micheal Luck (c)

Interchange (from): Nathan Fien, Jesse Royal, Ukuma Ta'ai, Lewis Brown, Daniel O'Regan.

Rabbitohs:

Rhys Wesser
Nathan Merritt
Colin Best
Shaun Corrigan
Fetuli Talanoa
John Sutton
Chris Sandow
Luke Stuart
Isaac Luke
Roy Asotasi (c)
Ben Lowe
S. McPherson
David Fa'alogo

Interchange (from): Craig Wing, Eddy Pettybourne, Jaiman Lowe, David Kidwell.