There won't be a softly, softly approach to pre-season matches this season at the Warriors as new coach Brian McClennan prepares to roll out the majority of his star quality against the Titans on February 4.
In fact, a high percentage of last year's grand final losing side could be in action at North Harbour Stadium.
The obvious exceptions are Lance Hohaia and Aaron Heremaia, who have left for Super League, and Micheal Luck who continues to recover from pre-Christmas shoulder surgery.
Manu Vatuvei will also be unavailable due to his involvement in the All Stars team to play the Indigeneous All Stars the same night.
Other than that, the other 13 grand finalists – along with new signing Nathan Friend – are in line for selection.
It is the first match in charge for McClennan, who has quality right across the park in his debut year as head coach of the Warriors.
"Members and fans always come along in force for our trials at North Harbour and we'll be putting out a really strong squad for this one," said McClennan.
"We're looking to field most of the players who appeared in the grand final against Manly last year."
Friend is almost certain to be wheeled out against his former club and will add an extra dimension as a nippy little hooker whose strong points are his fitness and an unerring voracity for defensive work.
Jerome Ropati has also been fully involved with pre-season training after missing the majority of the 2011 season with another serious knee injury.
McClennan may name his side by Wednesday next week but hasn't yet decided how many players he will use in the opening trial encounter.
Meanwhile, Gold Coast may also show off new recruits Jamaal Idris, Nate Myles and Luke Douglas along with experienced heads Scott Prince, Greg Bird and Ashley Harrison.
The Titans will still be hurting after a disastrous 2011 saw them finish with the wooden spoon for the first time in the club's five-year history.
The big-name purchases of Idris, Myles and Douglas have not come cheap and coach John Cartwright is hoping they will consistently deliver on their star quality.
North Harbour Stadium will also host the back-to-back Toyota Cup-winning Junior Warriors, who play Otahuhu's premier side in a curtain-raiser to the NRL trial.
The Warriors have further warm-up clashes with the Rabbitohs on February 11 in Coffs Harbour, followed by the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles seven days later in Whangarei ahead of their NRL opener at Eden Park against the defending premiers Manly on March 4.