NZ Warriors have sprung a surprise selection in the halves for their NRL showdown with South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday.
Hooker Wayde Egan - recovered from his brutal hit by Nelson Asofa-Solomona in last week's 24-12 loss to Melbourne Storm - has been named to start in the No. 6 jersey at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The Australian rake was shifted into the halves on Friday, after regular starter Chanel Harris-Tavita was forced from the field with a knee injury.
With Harris-Tavita now sidelined indefinitely, interim coach Stacey Jones has opted to use Egan at pivot, with Freddy Lussick taking over at hooker.
Meanwhile, Bayley Sironen, Jack Murchie and Aaron Pene all return in a new-look back row, with interim Jones moving regular second rower Euan Aitken into the centres for Adam Pompey and switching Josh Curran to the interchange.
Pene replaces Jazz Tevaga, who has been ruled out with a shoulder injury suffered against the Storm.
Sironen returns from a broken eye socket while Murchie is back after staying in Australia last week to be with his partner for the birth of his daughter.
With Arthars nursing a thigh strain, Marcelo Montoya stays in the centres while Edward Kosi, fresh from his hat-trick against the Storm, retains his place on the left wing.
The seventh-placed Rabbitohs will also be looking to bounce back from defeat, after being edged 21-20 by Cronulla Sharks on Saturday.
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