Rugby League: Warriors duo Blake Green, Solomone Kata race to prove fitness for NRL clash against North Queensland Cowboys

Peta Hiku could be in line for another run in the halves for the Warriors, should Blake Green be ruled out for the second week in a row.

Green was a late withdrawal from last weekend's loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs on the Sunshine Coast after suffering a groin injury in the warm-up. The injury saw Hiku shift from the centres to partner Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves.

While Green was named to return when the team list was revealed for Saturday's clash against the North Queensland Cowboys at Mt Smart Stadium, Warriors assistant coach Todd Payten admitted a decision was yet to be made on their chief playmaker.

"Green trained yesterday, had physio today and he's going to run tomorrow. We're going to make a call after that, so it's a wait and see at the moment," Payten said.

"I'm only going off what's come out of his mouth and he's pretty confident.

"With his experience he'll be the determining factor whether he's right to play. Whether the medical team thinks he can do it, obviously he's got to know within himself whether he's right to kick, tackle and run, and he'll know best."

Payten said all signs pointed to Hiku playing in the halves should Green be ruled out after the team's captain's run on Thursday, while veteran centre Gerard Beale would likely take up residence on the left edge.

On the other side of the pitch, centre Solomone Kata will have to prove his fitness ahead of the match after sustaining a leg injury in the loss to the Rabbitohs. Payten was optimistic both Green and Kata would be available to play.

"(Kata) moved well. He hasn't done a lot of contact yet; tomorrow we'll put him through the ringer in terms of a fitness test but we're expecting him to be right."

Solomone Kata was injured during the Warriors loss to the Rabbitohs. Photo / Photosport

Should either player show signs that they might not be 100 per cent fit, they would likely be sidelined for the Cowboys clash, rather than being risked with so much of the season left to play.

It's a similar story for the Cowboys who will be without impressive winger Nene Macdonald for the match as he recovers from an ankle injury, with Justin O'Neill lining up outside Jordan Kahu on the left wing.