League: Crucial weekend for Warriors and Chiefs

RETURN: Cameron Walters will return to the Pikiao lineup after missing last weekend's loss to Otumoetai Eels. PHOTO/FILE

There are significant, but different, reasons for both Rotorua premier rugby league teams to be desperate for a win.

Pikiao take on Taupo Phoenix at Puketawhero Park tomorrow and, after going down to Otumoetai Eels, another defeat will mean losing touch with the competition's top two the Eels and Pacific.

Ngongotaha sit jointly at the bottom of the table with tomorrow's opponents Taneatua. A loss would mean occupying that position in isolation for the Chiefs.

Pikiao coach Jason Parata was disappointed to experience defeat for the first time since the competition proper began. The defeat came after what he described as an "ugly win" over Ngongotaha the week before and he now wants his side to get back to dominating the opposition.

"We were missing key people in key positions [last week] - that probably cost us more than anything," he said.

While half-back Kihiroa Wihapi will be out for several more weeks after dislocating his shoulder against Ngongotaha, Parata welcomes back his first choice centre pairing of Percy King and Cameron Walters.

Pikiao won the game when the two sides met in pre-season grading, and Parata said his side will take confidence from that win into tomorrow's game.

"They are a big side so hopefully we can get over them. The main thing is to fix our errors from last week."

Jason Walker's Ngongotaha are also coming off a loss - 40-20 to Mangakino in Putaruru.

He is also likely to be down on troops through a suspension and injuries.

He said he thought the loss to Mangakino came down to a few factors.

''You can't take it away from Mangakino, they played smart and used their subs well. For us the problem was fitness partially, and the other part is [the players] believing in themselves and fronting up on the day.''

The coaching staff have been driving the players hard at training this week to try to resolve the fitness issue.

''It's a tough road trying to get their fitness and their game on track, but those are the things you have to do to get it right.''

Sticking to the game plan is the key message Walker had for his players ahead of tomorrow's game.

Pikiao Reserves take on Taupo Reserves at 1pm at Puketawhero Park with the premiers game kicking off at 2.30pm.