VENUE & TIME: Mt Smart Stadium, Sunday 31 August, 2:00pm (AEST)
COVERAGE: Sky Sport 2, 4pm
LAST TIME: Panthers 46-22 Warriors, at CUA Stadium, Round 10, 2008.
WALKING WOUNDED: Debate has raged red-hot this week whether Panthers second-rower Frank Pritchard has an injured shoulder or a weak heart. Rumours surfaced that he refused to take the field after half-time in Monday's loss to the Storm, although given he's putting off surgery until the end of the season it seems a harsh criticism. Star Penrith youngsters Lachlan Coote and Wade Graham are also keeping the medicos busy. With Micheal Luck's return, the Warriors are missing only Aidan Kirk to an ongoing hamstring complaint.
FORM: Both sides were thrashed last week in matches vital to their playoff aspirations. The Panthers were outclassed 40-6 by the Storm while the Warriors were their own worst enemies in a 34-6 defeat to an inspired Dragons outfit.
WHO'S HOT: Any conversation about the best buy of 2008 must involve Panthers captain Petero Civoniceva. His leadership and tireless work has been the difference between last year's wooden spoon finish to the chances, albeit slim, of a playoff spot 12 months later. His battle with Warriors skipper and fellow Queensland prop Steve Price will be a highlight, as will the presence of Wade McKinnon who has made returning from major knee surgery look ridiculously easy.
WE THINK: Expect inspiration to be the difference here. The Warriors found it out the hard way last Sunday when the Dragons farewelled seven players and three coaches in their final home match and it seems logical the same will happen for Ruben Wiki, Wairangi Koopu and Logan Swann this week. The Panthers should be up for it as well, given a loss well and truly ends their season, but midweek disruption and the tough trip across the Tasman may well prove too hard to conquer. Warriors by 16.
TEAMS:
Warriors: 1. Wade McKinnon, 2. Malo Solomona, 3. Brent Tate, 4. Jerome Ropati, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. Michael Witt, 7. Nathan Fien, 8. Ruben Wiki (v-c), 9. Ian Henderson, 10. Steve Price (c), 11. Simon Mannering, 12. Ben Matulino, 13. Micheal Luck
Interchange (one to be omitted): 14. Lance Hohaia, 15. Wairangi Koopu, 16. Sam Rapira, 17. Logan Swann, 18. Evarn Tuimavave
Panthers: 1. Rhys Wesser, 2. Luke Rooney, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Brad Tighe, 5. Michael Gordon, 6. Maurice Blair, 7. Luke Lewis, 8. Tony Puletua, 9. Luke Priddis, 10. Petero Civoniceva (c), 11. Matthew Bell, 12. Trent Waterhouse, 13. Nathan Smith
Interchange (two to be omitted): 14. Daniel Penese, 15. Adam Woolnough, 16. Frank Puletua, 17. Paul Aiton, 18. Jarrod Sammut, 19. Josh Bateman