In a major boost for the Warriors, Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent Tate and Brett Seymour have all been cleared to return from injury for the match with the Melbourne Storm at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday.
Morale at the sixth-paced Auckland club is at a season-high after a determined and gutsy 12-6 win over the Panthers on Sunday and the returning quartet will only add to the confidence.
After missing the wins over Parramatta and Penrith with a groin complaint, Hohaia slots back into his regular spot at fullback with Jerome Ropati reverting to the centres and his stand-in Lewis Brown resuming his starting back rower's role.
Tate, who has missed the last four matches with a broken jaw, is back in the centres for Joel Moon. He pairs up again with Locke, sidelined for the wins over the Eels and the Panthers after colliding with a goalpost while scoring the match-winning try against the Sydney Roosters in Christchurch on June 27.
Halfback Seymour has recovered from a leg fracture to make his fifth appearance for the club, joining James Maloney in the halves.
Also back in action this weekend is forward Jacob Lillyman, who's set to turn out for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup after being out with a foot injury since the April 25 loss to Melbourne.
While those five players are back, winger Bill Tupou (hand) and Isaac John (knee) weren't considered this week after picking up injuries in Sunday's courageous road victory over Penrith.
"It's obviously a boost being able to bring back experienced players like Lance, Brent and Brett but it was also a really difficult side to select for this match because the team has been going well lately," Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said.
With Hohaia, Locke, Tate, Seymour and Lillyman playing this weekend, Kiwi prop Sam Rapira is the only senior player still on the casualty list. Cleary hoped Rapira would recover from his knee injury in two weeks.
Cleary is wary, however, expecting a desperate Storm side following a run of four losses in their last five matches.
Team:
1. Lance Hohaia, 2. Kevin Locke, 3. Brent Tate, 4. Jerome Ropati, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. James Maloney. 7. Brett Seymour, 8. Jesse Royal, 9. Aaron Heremaia, 10. Russell Packer, 11. Simon Mannering, 12. Lewis Brown, 13. Micheal Luck.
Interchange: 14. Ian Henderson, 15. Ben Matulino, 16. Jeremy Latimore, 17. Ukuma Ta'ai, Sione Lousi.