The NZ Warriors are expecting some much-needed injury cover to arrive after the NRL season restarts this week.
Having now been given the all-clear by the NRL, the Warriors are close to securing a loan player to ease their injury woes in the forwards.
Coach Stephen Kearney has revealed they're in negotitations with a pair of teams, but he's unwilling to offer any details with the rescheduled season now just hours away.
"At this stage, we're working through that process with a couple of clubs," Kearmey says. "But we're really mindful that round one is coming up tomorrow.
"Hopefully we should have something locked in by the weekend but just to be really respectful to clubs that we're talking to, we don't want to say anything until they've played their game of footy."
Kearney says they're only seeking one loan player, as Jazz Tevaga's injury isn't as severe as initially feared.
With stock depleted, Kearney has named rookie Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Lachlan Burr into starting roles for the side's first match of the retsrated NRL season against the St George Illawarra Dragons on Saturday.
Rookie Taunoa-Brown, signed late in the pre-season, will make his maiden first grade start while Burr's career has been primarily in the back row.
Inexperience aside, Kearney is confident the pair's mobility will cause some headaches for the large Dragons pack, which includes the likes of internationals James Graham and Tyson Frizzell.
"Our two guys are quite light-footed in terms of their movement around the paddock," Kearney notes.
"I'm anticipating given the change to one referee and also the six-again rule, that potentially that could have an effect on how the game is played. It's trying to find a positive I guess."
