NRL: Tomkins and Vatuvei return for Warriors

Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins against the Newcastle Knights, Auckland, on Sunday. 1 June 2014.

The Warriors are boosted by the return from injury of outside back pair Sam Tomkins and Manu Vatuvei for Sunday's NRL clash against the Newcastle Knights at Mt Smart Stadium (4pm kick-off).

Tomkins is set for just his third outing of the season after being sidelined with a knee injury since the 29-16 third-round win over Parramatta on March 21.

Vatuvei is poised to play his 204th NRL game after missing the 17-13 golden point victory over the Eels with a sternum injury.

Tomkins' return after a seven-game absence sees fill-in fullback Tui Lolohea shift to the centres, where he played two matches earlier this season, while 207-game veteran hooker Nathan Friend comes into the starting side following Thomas Leuluai's season-ending knee injury.

Friend's promotion gives back-up No9 Siliva Havili a spot on the interchange bench for his first NRL game of the year, with Sebastine Ikahihifo called in for his second appearance after previously being used against Melbourne last month.

"Tui has been fantastic at the back but we also know he can do a good job for us at centre," said Warriors assistant coach Tony Iro.

"Losing Tommy for the season is a massive setback but it gives both Friendy and Siliva an opportunity. While we know Friendy can play 80 minutes for us, Siliva gives us something a bit different."

Friend's inclusion means the Warriors will field a changed starting forward pack for the first time in 10 games.

Named to start again are Queensland front rower Jacob Lillyman and New South Wales second rower Ryan Hoffman, who will both square off against each other in tomorrow night's State of Origin series opener.

Lillyman edges closer to his 200-game career milestone with his 197th appearance on Sunday while second rower Bodene Thompson plays his 96th game and halfback Shaun Johnson his 94th.

Coming off their first bye, the Warriors lie seventh on the ladder with 12 points after fives win and five losses in their first 10 games, their best start to a season since 2012 (when they also have a 5-5 record after the first 10 rounds.

Newcastle, who toppled the Warriors 24-14 at Hunter Stadium in their round one encounter, are in 12th spot on 10 points after going down 31-18 to the Brisbane Broncos last night.

The overall record between the two clubs is close, the Warriors winning 15 of 33 games played since 1995 with one drawn.

In games at Mt Smart Stadium, the Warriors hold a 9-8 advantage with one draw but they've won eight of the last nine at home stretching back to 2006 including a 38-18 victory last year when the club marked captain Simon Mannering's 200th career appearance and his 100th as captain.

Warriors: 1. Sam Tomkins, 2. Jonathan Wright, 3. Tui Lolohea, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. Chad Townsend, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Jacob Lillyman, 9. Nathan Friend, 10. Ben Matulino, 11. Bodene Thompson, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Simon Mannering (c).

Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili, 15. Sebastine Ikahihifo, 16. Sam Lisone, 17. Albert Vete.