By PETER JESSUP
Stacey Jones has convinced Warriors coach Mark Graham that he is ready to reclaim his halfback spot, with the boss saying he will wait until tomorrow to see whether he will start the little maestro.
"Of course we want him back in," Graham said. "It'll give the side a huge boost in morale.
"But we don't want him back too early. We don't want him getting injured again or worrying about getting injured again and we don't want him having to come off after 15 minutes with a sore arm, because morale would dive again."
Jones has been put through tough contact work in training but will clearly be short on match fitness, given that he would be asked to go 80 minutes.
There is also weight to the idea that Jones' replacement, Ben Lythe, may stay one more week because Ivan Cleary is sidelined through injury and Lythe's career kicking success rate is around 92 per cent.
There will be one new face on the wing: Te Atatu centre Shontayne Hape, who has just turned 18, will step up after good showings for the Newtown feeder club.
At 1.88m and 95kg Hape has 6cm and 8kg on his opposite, Nathan Blacklock, and the coaching staff feel he has the speed.
The Dragons are sure to target the Warriors' centres and to drop bombs on Hape, fullback Cliff Beverley and other flankman Lee Oudenryn following the success other sides have had there.
The Warriors have been working to ensure better harassment of opposition kickers, blocking their chasers to protect the catcher and securing the ball.
Off to Newtown this week are Odell Manuel, Matt Spence, Mark Tookey and Clinton Toopi. To Brisbane Souths go Jonathon Smith, Henry Perenara, Francis Meli and Henry Faafili.
Still on the injury list with Cleary are Jerry Seuseu (knee), Joe Galuvao - who reinjured his hamstring playing for Manurewa Marlins in the Bartercard Cup last weekend - Scott Coxon (toe), Vae Kololo (knee) and Awen Guttenbeil (Achilles). Guttenbeil is awaiting results of an MRI scan on the foot.
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