Warriors v Manly
Mt Smart Stadium, 4pm tomorrow
The tests just keep coming for the resurgent Warriors.
A week after dealing to the Broncos in the Queensland heat, the injury-depleted Warriors face a Manly side that has often proved their nemesis.
Having won six of eight encounters in Auckland, Manly don't fear crossing the ditch to play in a city where they enjoy plenty of support.
The absence of key winger Manu Vatuvei and captain Simon Mannering will also have the Sea Eagles feeling just a little bit better about life. Certainly a cobbled-together Warriors left edge that includes either the returning Lewis Brown or Jacob Lillyman and debutant wing Bill Tupou is a lot less imposing than the first choice Mannering-Jerome Ropati-Vatuvei axis.
With eight players already on the injured list - a tally that doesn't include fit again but not selected hooker Ian Henderson - the Warriors resources are severely stretched.
The relentless injury toll - which has also claimed key figures Brett Seymour and Steve Price - has meant coach Ivan Cleary has become accustomed to reshuffling his line-up.
"It has been a test, probably right back to before the trials with Pricey unavailable," Cleary said.
"We then lost Ian Henderson in the first trial and it has been a succession since then. I guess the only positive is that you almost get used to someone dropping out and someone else going in."
Replacements such as Tupou, who performed strongly during the trials, weren't coming in completely cold, Cleary said.
"Rather than coming out of the wilderness they have actually played at that level in the trials. And everybody that has had the opportunity presented to them has put in a good performance so far. Hopefully that can continue."
Signed at 16, now 19-year-old Tupou is playing his third season of NYC but his first as a full-time professional.
"He looked pretty comfortable in [the trials]," Cleary said.
"He was really pushing to make the squad at the start of the year so it is probably a good time for him to get a game. I think he'll go well."
Tupou has massive shoes to fill but Cleary isn't expecting Vatuvei-like production from the youngster.
"He can't do the same sort of job as Manu - Manu is unique in the way he plays the game and what he offers our team. Bill is not built quite the same but, having said that, he runs pretty well in traffic and he is a good finisher. I'm sure he'll be doing his best to make sure he gets through a lot of work for the team.
"Without Manu it just means a bit more work for some of the other guys, probably even the forwards. Manu has a big role in our yardage game so it means everyone else has to chip in a bit more."
A week after coming out on top of his clash with Darren Lockyer and Peter Wallace, emerging Warriors star James Maloney will again have his hands full with young Manly playmakers Trent Hodkinson and Kieran Foran.
The Manly duo hit their straps last week in the club's first victory - 36-12 against Newcastle - after two false starts.
With both teams set up in similar fashion with a playmaking halfback and a strong running five-eighth, the halves battle should be intriguing.
Maloney's emergence as a genuine NRL talent sits near the top of a long list of positives so far for the Warriors - perhaps only rivalled by the sparkling form of hooker Aaron Heremaia.
"It has been a blow losing Brett but so far we have been able to get through it and a lot of credit has got to go to James," Cleary said.
"He is one of those kids who I guess has been on the cusp of the NRL for a few years. He's played at good clubs where there have been some good players ahead of him. But he has always been right up there in the New South Wales Cup.
"His nature has helped him as well. He doesn't get overawed at anything. He is a pretty laid back kind of character and he is confident in himself. He has done well but he still has a way to go. He is still getting used to the pace of the game and making decisions for 80 minutes."
Having played much of last week's game in the Queensland heat with just 15 players, the Warriors will again need to dig deep to stay with Manly tomorrow.
Wary of the rigours of an arduous start to the campaign, Cleary has limited training this week and spent plenty of time focusing on recovery.
WARRIORS v MANLY:
Warriors
Lance Hohaia
Kevin Locke
Brent Tate
Jerome Ropati
Bill Tupou
Joel Moon
James Maloney
Sam Rapira
Aaron Heremaia
Russell Packer
Lewis Brown
Jacob Lillyman
Micheal Luck (c)
Interchange: Wade McKinnon, Jeremy Latimore, Jesse Royal, Ben Matulino
Manly
Ben Farrar
M. Robertson
Jamie Lyon (c)
Steve Matai
Tony Williams
Kieran Foran
Trent Hodkinson
Jason King (c)
Matt Ballin
Josh Perry
A. Watmough
Shane Rodney
Glenn Stewart
Interchange: Joe Galuvao, Brent Kite, Matt Cross, Chris Bailey, Terence Seu Seu, Vic Mauro
