NRL: Warriors prepare to break hoodoo

The Warriors have never won in Wollongong since St George merged with Illawarra in 1999. Photo / Getty Images

The local tourist agency lists Wollongong as "one of Australia's most liveable regional cities'' but it's not a place the Warriors find particularly hospitable.

The Warriors have never won in Wollongong since St George merged with Illawarra in 1999, with seven defeats in seven games. The closest they have come was when they went down 12-11 in 2009, when halfback Stacey Jones fumbled the ball as he lined up a field goal that would have sent the game into extra time.

But the two sides go into Sunday's match with contrasting fortunes even though there is only one point between them on the table. The fourth-placed Warriors have won six of their last seven - their only defeat was the 21-20 loss to Brisbane three weeks ago - while the Dragons are hoping to avoid a record sixth-straight defeat. It's a massive turnaround in fortunes for the defending premiers after they won a club record nine consecutive matches earlier in the season.

It's a big match for both sides. A win would put the Warriors a step closer to securing a home playoff match and a victory for the Dragons would ensure a top-eight spot - they are presently seventh, three points ahead of the Knights in eighth.

"The stakes are pretty high,'' Warriors coach Ivan Cleary agreed. "Everyone knows what is up for grabs but, at the end of the day, it's going to come down to who's best on the day. That's what it's all about. Wherever you finish at the end of next week [after the final round robin match] is where you deserve to be.''

Cleary had no idea why the Warriors struggled in Wollongong but the fact they have been one of the best sides of recent times and are coached by Wayne Bennett should be top of the list. It's a record, though, Cleary is keen to change.

"It sounds like we're due, right?'' he said. "Our last time down there, there was only a point in it and we came away feeling like we should have won. As a player I really liked playing there. I look forward to going there and testing ourselves against the premiers.''

The selection of Krisnan Inu on the wing to replace the injured Manu Vatuvei is the only change to the 18-man squad that travelled to Penrith last Saturday. Lewis Brown was 18th man against the Panthers and is again in the mix on a five-man bench, which also includes Lance Hohaia, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira and Elijah Taylor.

Vatuvei is out with an injured wrist but the club are hopeful he would return in time for the playoffs. Club doctor John Mayhew said the giant winger has little strength in his wrist, which might explain his indifferent display against the Panthers, but he might have played this weekend if it was a playoff match.

Cleary said Inu was a natural replacement for Vatuvei. Inu played well there earlier in the season when Vatuvei was absent and he carries plenty of experience at both NRL and international level.

"Kris did that job earlier in the season and I thought he did it pretty well,'' Cleary said. "His qualities are similar in some ways to Manu - he's good in the air and is quite a big guy as well. He knows that job and I'm banking on him playing well in the weekend.''

The Dragons welcome back centre Mark Gasnier, who has recovered from a hip injury, and winger Brett Morris, who missed last weekend's defeat to the Storm because of the birth of his first child.

Warriors lineup: Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Joel Moon, Shaun Berrigan, Krisnan Inu, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Russell Packer, Aaron Heremaia, Jacob Lillyman, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (c), Micheal Luck. Interchange: Lewis Brown, Lance Hohaia, Ben Matulino, Sam Rapira, Elijah Taylor.