By PETER JESSUP
Lance Hohaia may be the surprise selection at five-eighths when the Warriors play the Melbourne Storm at Ericsson Stadium tomorrow.
Hohaia has been training with the top squad all week and up to yesterday was competing with Thomas Leuluai - who was named in the No 6 jersey early in the week - for the run-on spot.
Hohaia was the star rookie in 2002, but he struggled mid-season in 2003 and ripped his right knee anterior cruciate ligament three minutes into the game against Brisbane in August last year after earning his spot back via the Bartercard Cup.
His combination with Stacey Jones in 2002, the options it offered and the pressure it took off Jones, is one of the reasons the Warriors made it to the grand final.
The lack of performance in the halves this season is one reason the side is struggling.
If Hohaia does return he could provide some options to confuse the defence - giving the attack some width or taking the line on himself.
Hohaia has been training with his knee strapped and, until recently, was hesitant in his approach and slightly off in his timing.
He played a good role in the WaiCoa Bay Stallions' 26-24 win over North Harbour in the Bartercard Cup, but pulled out of the second game against the Tornadoes.
Now the 21-year-old has to prove he is mentally ready, and up to contributing to a team struggling for 80-minute form.
If the predicted dirty weather arrives tomorrow the Warriors will put a hold on the off-load game. There will be major effort this week to return a completion rate around 75 per cent after they managed to finish off just 19 of 41 sets of six against the Bulldogs.
It was 31 from 44 when they lost to the Knights, 25 from 38 in the loss to Penrith, 33 from 46 against the Dragons, 20 from 41 in Brisbane and an ordinary 28 from 44 in their solitary win over the Sea Eagles.
The Warriors have also regularly topped the opposition's error count - 25 to the Dogs' 18 in Wellington.
But coach Daniel Anderson believes they can turn it around.
The choices between Leuluai and Hohaia, and Mark Tookey and Iafeta Paleaaesina at prop will be made today. If Hohaia does not play against the Storm he is a good bet for the next game, North Queensland away.
After that the Warriors host Manly, then play Souths away, so there is the opportunity to corner some form and string wins together against less-fancied teams.
Anderson said his team had done nothing dramatically different in training, and there had been plenty of aggression.
"We're as good as any team in the competition," he said. "We need to stay composed."
So the game may be about building pressure, forcing repeat sets and goal-line drop-outs if they can't score first up, reducing errors that gift possession to the opposition and reducing territorial gain with effort in kick-chase and gang-tackling.
Awen Guttenbeil's return in the middle and as captain should improve communication and focus.
The Storm arrived yesterday and have a closed run at Ericsson this afternoon. They will then decide whether Rodney Howe or Antonio Kaufusi will replace the suspended Alex Chan.
The Glenora Bears play Central Falcons in a Bartercard Cup curtain-raiser at 11.35am.
Warriors players released to Bartercard teams this weekend include Henry Fa'afili, who will turn out for Counties-Manukau against Hibiscus Coast, and Justin Murphy and Herewini Rangi who play for the Tornadoes against North Harbour.
Marcus Perenara is in the Marist side to meet WaiCoa Bay, who include Shannon Stowers. Danny Sullivan is playing for the Mt Albert Lions against a Canterbury Bulls side including Kane Ferris.
* Visit nzherald.co.nz throughout the weekend for Warriors updates.
Warriors draw and results - 2004 NRL
Other NRL fixtures and points table
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