The NZ Warriors' midfield woes have continued, with news centre Peta Hiku will be out for an extended period with injury.
Hiku faces "several weeks" on the sidelines, after injuring his knee early in the second half of the Warriors' 34-31 comeback win over the Canberra Raiders on Saturday.
New signing Marcelo Montoya will slot in as Hiku's replacement to make his club debut against Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
The rookie forms a new tandem with Adam Pompey, who stepped in for Euan Aitken, after the new recruit succumbed to an ankle injury in the opening round win over the Gold Coast Titans.
The 25-year-old Fiji international Montoya signed on with the Warriors during the off-season, after 54 games with Canterbury Bulldogs dating back to 2017.
While he began his first-grade career on the wing, he's since transitioned to the centres, where he's played 16 of his last 20 games.
Montoya's inclusion is the only change to the 17-man squad that fought back from a 19-point halftime deficit to record one of the greatest comeback wins in the club's history at GIO Stadium last weekend.
With Hiku added to the casualty list, Brown is now missing four of his first choice starting players after just three rounds.
As well as Hiku and Aitken (sidelined for up to 10 weeks with an ankle injury), halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita is recovering from a foot operation which will keep him out for up to 12 weeks.
Also out of action is prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, who serves the second match of a three-game ban this week for a crusher tackle offence against Newcastle.
Currently sitting ninth on the NRL ladder, the Warriors have lost their past three games to the Roosters, who are third.
Join us for live updates of NZ Warriors v Sydney Roosters from Sunday, 8:15pm
