By PETER JESSUP
The Warriors welcome back captain Monty Betham and regular five-eighth Lance Hohaia for their final pre-season trial in Invercargill tomorrow and will rest prop Jerry Seuseu because his ability is proved.
The team to face the Penrith Panthers are close to a first-rank side.
Two players will be added to the interchange bench before they fly south on the morning of the game. Those are likely to be Mark Robinson, who yesterday signed a deal to play until he takes up his contract with Northampton in August, and centre John Carlaw, who is yet to have a game after knee surgery.
Robinson is expected in the north of England on August 1 and until then will be on a pay-per-play deal for first-grade appearances.
Iafeta Palea'aesina gets his chance to force his way onto the bench for the season opener against Newcastle at Ericsson Stadium on March 16. The big prop is yet to regain the form he showed before suffering spleen damage towards the end of the 2001 season, but looked keen in the trial against the Sharks last weekend.
The Panthers flew into Invercargill yesterday with a full-strength side. They beat Newcastle 52-16 last weekend, a result coach John Lang dismissed as encouraging but meaningless considering the experimental mob the Knights ran out.
The Panthers conceded an average 30 points a game last year and have been working on their defence, which will mean a good workout for the Warriors.
Warriors: Motu Tony, Henry Fa'afili, Clinton Toopi, Vince Mellars, Francis Meli, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones, Iafeta Palea'aesina, P.J. Marsh, Mark Tookey, Logan Swann, Awen Guttenbeil, Monty Betham (capt). Interchange: Justin Murphy, Evarn Tuimavave, Wairangi Koopu, Karl Te Mata and two to be named.
Penrith: Rhys Wesser, Preston Campbell, Luke Lewis, Paul Whatuira, Luke Rooney, Ryan Girdler, Craig Gower, Joel Clinton, Luke Priddis, Ben Ross, Tony Puletua, Joe Galuvao, Scott Sattler. Interchange: Trent Waterhouse, Ben Roarty, Geoff Bell, Shane Rodney, Brett Howland, Shannon Donato, David McLean, Steve Turner.
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