NRL: Cleary keeps his focus on Eels

Simon Mannering ponders the bill of fare for the Warriors on Saturday night. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors have named an unchanged side for their final-round trip to Parramatta on Saturday night.

With Micheal Luck not expected to play because of his cut leg, the only tweaking of the squad sees Joel Moon added to a five-man bench as cover for Manu Vatuvei and Jerome Ropati, who both departed early during Friday night's victory over the Broncos.

The club has described that move as purely precautionary, however Moon's presence suggests there is a concern over at least one of the team's left-edge strike weapons.

With the Titans and Tigers to square off on Friday night, the Warriors will go into the match knowing whether they are playing for the chance to secure fourth spot or to maintain their current position of fifth.

If the Titans lose the Warriors can move up to fourth, although a Roosters side that is level with them on points and differential would also be chasing that prize later on Saturday night against the lowly Cowboys.

"We can influence only one thing and that's the result against the Eels," coach Ivan Cleary said.

"Everything else will take care of itself. We need to fix our focus on Parramatta and do everything we can to ensure our performance is at the level it will need to be.

"Some people have said the Eels have nothing to play for now they're out of the finals picture. That's certainly not true. They'll be high on emotion as they farewell Nathan Cayless. That'll be a big motivation for them.

"We came up with a really strong effort against Brisbane, which was the result of the way we prepared for that game. We know we'll have to match that all over again to be in the hunt against a side that has so many talented players." One of those talents, Warriors-bound Feleti Mateo, is clear to play after accepting a grade one striking charge for punching Souths forward Jaiman Lowe.

While the Warriors are in decent shape, the same can't be said of several finals' rivals who have been left reeling by injury and suspension.

Manly are facing up to a playoff campaign without Glenn Stewart after the ball-playing back-rower accepted a four-match ban for elbowing Braith Anasta in the head.

Penrith captain Petero Civoniceva could miss either two or three matches after being sent off for a high tackle against the Bulldogs on Monday night. Civoniceva is yet to plead to a grade three high tackle charge.

Meanwhile, the Tigers and Titans head into their crucial Friday night clash with a host of injury concerns.

The Tigers have lost centre Chris Lawrence to a broken jaw and will also be without Wade McKinnon (hamstring) and Liam Fulton, while coach Tim Sheens will have to wait on the fitness of John Skandalis (buttock) and Gareth Ellis (calf).

The Titans also have issues, with prop Luke Bailey in doubt with a fractured thumb and five-eighth Mat Rogers (hip), back-rower Anthony Laffranchi (shoulder) and Preston Campbell (hamstring) all battling injuries.

The Titans, who have home advantage, can overtake the second-placed Tigers with a win by 10 points or more.

Utility back Patrick Ah Van has been released from the last year of his NRL contract with the Warriors to take up a one-year deal with the Bradford Bulls in the English Super League. Ah Van, 22, was off contract at the end of the 2011 season but the club had agreed to his request for an early release.

WARRIORS

7.30pm Saturday, Sydney

Lance Hohaia
Kevin Locke
Brent Tate
Jerome Ropati
Manu Vatuvei
James Maloney
Brett Seymour
Sam Rapira
Aaron Heremaia
Russell Packer
S. Mannering (c)
Lewis Brown
Jacob Lillyman.

EELS

Jarryd Hayne
Luke Burt
Joel Reddy
Timana Tahu
Krisnan Inu
Kris Keating
Jeff Robson
N. Cayless (c)
Matthew Keating
Fuifui Moimoi
N.Hindmarsh (c)
Ben Smith
Feleti Mateo

Warriors: Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino, Ukuma Ta'ai, Jesse Royal, Joel Moon.

Eels: Daniel Mortimer, Tim Mannah, Justin Horo, Justin Poore

CALCULATIONS

Final-round scenarios:

1. The Warriors head into the round sitting in fifth place. They can finish fourth and earn a home final if a) They beat the Eels and b) The Titans lose to the Tigers and c) The Roosters either lose to the Cowboys or beat them by fewer points than the Warriors beat the Eels.

2. If the Warriors beat the Eels and the Titans beat the Tigers, the Warriors will finish fifth or sixth, depending on the result and score of the Roosters v Cowboys match. Either way it will mean a finals match in Australia.

3. If the Warriors lose to the Eels they could finish as low as eighth, with the Roosters, Sea Eagles and Raiders all able to overtake them.