NZ Warriors will return to near full strength for their NRL qualifying final against Penrith Panthers in Sydney on Saturday.
Coach Andrew Webster has brought back his full complement of starters after several key players were rested for their final regular season clash with the Dolphins last weekend.
That includes captain Tohu Harris, whose troublesome back has recovered in time to lead his team onto the park at BlueBet Stadium for the Warriors' first playoffs appearance since 2018.
Joining Harris after a week of rest are fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, half Shaun Johnson, front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake, and hooker Wayde Egan in their regular run-on spots.
Also returning is utility Jazz Tevaga, who has missed the last three matches due to a hamstring injury suffered against the Wests Tigers in Hamilton.
That match was only his eighth of the campaign, after a three-month layoff with a calf injury sustained during the annual Anzac Day clash against Melbourne Storm in April.
Tevaga suffered his most recent injury on the training paddock in the lead-up to the last month's win over Manly Sea Eagles.
Jackson Ford reclaims his spot in the starting second row, shifting Josh Curran to the bench after impressing in the one-sided loss to the Dolphins in Brisbane.
The two sides have met once this season, when the Panthers emerged with an 18-6 win during magic round in a highly competitive contest back in May.
After that defeat, the Warriors went on a run of 11 wins from 13 matches, including a seven-game win streak that came to an end at Suncorp Stadium last weekend.
A Warriors win would see them advance directly to the preliminary final, affording them a bye in week two of the knockouts.
A loss will send them back to Auckland to host a sudden-death semi-final, likely against the winner of this weekend's elimination final between Canberra Raiders and Newcastle Knights.
NZ Warriors: 1-Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2-Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3-Rocco Berry, 4-Adam Pompey, 5-Marcelo Montoya, 6-Te Maire Martin, 7-Shaun Johnson, 8-Addin Fonua-Blake, 9-Wayde Egan, 10-Mitchell Barnett, 11-Jackson Ford, 12-Marata Niukore, 13-Tohu Harris (c)
Interchange (from): 14-Dylan Walker, 15-Jazz Tevaga, 16-Bayley Sironen, 17-Josh Curran, 18-Freddy Lussick, 20-Taine Tuaupiki, 21-Bunty Afoa, 22-Tom Ale, 23-Ed Kosi
Join Newshub at 6pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors v Panthers NRL playoff clash
