NZ Warriors will inject new signing Matt Lodge immediately into the fray, with the Australian named in the run-on side against Cronulla Sharks on Sunday.
Despite only joining the squad on Friday, after his mid-season signing from Brisbane Broncos, Lodge will start in the front-row at Sydney's Jubilee Stadium.
Rookie star Reece Walsh will also provide a huge boost for the Warriors, returning to fullback after missing the loss to St George Illawarra Dragons due to a hamstring injury.
Kodi Nikorima also reclaims his spot in the halves, after being sidelined with an ankle injury, as the Warriors attempt to bounce back from blowing a late lead to lose by Golden Point to the Dragons on Friday.
He'll start alongside Sean O'Sullivan, while new short-term signing Chad Townsend won't take the field against his former club, after being ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Also missing due to injury is talismanic forward Tohu Harris, who's dealing with his own shoulder injury. He's replaced by Jazz Tevaga in the back row.
Meanwhile, coach Nathan Brown is still unable to call on centre Euan Aitken and back rower Josh Curran, who remain in isolation for another week.
Lodge combines with fellow prop Addin Fonua-Blake to form one of the largest front rows in the club's history, with the 189cm Fonua-Blake weighing in at 123kg and 191cm Lodge at 117kg.
Currently sitting eighth on the NRL ladder, the Sharks will be out to redeem themselves after their shock loss to the struggling Broncos last weekend.
NZ Warriors: 1. Reece Walsh, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Rocco Berry, 4. Marcelo Montoya, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Sean O'Sullivan, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Matt Lodge, 11. Eliesa Katoa, 12. Bayley Sironen, 13. Jazz Tevaga.
Interchange: Kane Evans, Leeson Ah Mau, Bunty Afoa, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Adam Pompey, Jack Murchie, Taniela Otukolo, Edward Kosi.
Join Newshub for live updates of NZ Warriors v Cronulla Sharks from 6pm Sunday.
