KEY POINTS:
The Warriors sit just two points above the Dragons on a congested NRL table, both just outside the top eight and, with just eight rounds to go, their clash tomorrow takes on added meaning.
The Dragons won consecutive games for the first time this season when they whacked
the Raiders 58-16 with an off-loading extravaganza last weekend.
Their coach, Nathan Brown, is not ruling out more of the same at Mt Smart tomorrow. "They're a big, athletic side who play an attractive brand of football. We expect a physical game, we know they're going to knock us around a bit but we don't want to let them put us off the game we want to play," Brown said.
"We definitely need to improve our defence."
The Dragons have been starting slowly, leading just five from 15 games at halftime.
But a drowsy start was what de-railed the Warriors in Townsville last weekend. And the Warriors haven't beaten the Dragons at Mt Smart since 2001.
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has brought back wing Michael Crockett to add more speed and increase the threat out wide.
"It's been frustrating on the sideline," Crockett said. His four-try flying start to the season was put on hold with a shoulder injury and his return was marred by a suspension for a high tackle.
"I've been wondering when things were going to turn my way." Two games back in premier league for the Auckland Lions and one try last weekend have him fizzing.
"I'm looking to get my hand on the ball. I hope the centres create opportunities for me. I just want to get the ball and bring it back, get the big boys on the front foot," Crockett said.
Logan Swann did not play in Townsville but returns refreshed. The only player unavailable was centre Tony Martin (ribs) but he is expected to be cleared by next weekend.
Cleary is wary of the young guns brought in by Brown but also sees them as a potential pressure-point for the Warriors to exploit. It was their own youthful inexperience that had probably cost them against the Cowboys, he said.
"The lapses are a worry, we have young players who are still finding their way." They were still learning to play out the full 80 minutes.
The Dragons have named the same side that beat the Raiders. Possibly just one player became available from an injury list that includes forward Ashton Sims (knee), utility Dean Young (knee) and backs Wes Naiqama (knee) and Mark Gasnier (pectoral muscle) who returned to training this week after four months on the sideline but is at least a week away.
There was a rumour Dragons test prop Jason Ryles, who has been out for four weeks with a knee problem, would fly in with them today and might play.
"Consistency in playing personnel is a key for any team and this is about the first time all year that we will have the same team on the field two weeks in a row," said Brown.
That was an important reason for their run of wins. "We have showed some good signs in the past two weeks but will need to improve again this week because the Warriors are always a tough opposition, especially at home."
Of the NRL's declaration that video ref Steve Nash was wrong in denying the Warriors a try in Townsville, coach Cleary said it was good that they were being transparent.
But he criticised the standard of officiating. "It is bad that we have got guys who can't do their job really, especially looking at slow motion."
Auckland Lions: Kevin Locke, Malo Solomona, Aidan Kirk, Constantine Mika, Patrick Ah Van, Jerome Ropati, Steve Buckingham (c), Wayne McDade, Marty Mitchell, Upu Poching, Lui Tolomoana, Sonny Fai, Corey Lawrie; interchange Kimi Uasi, Leeson Ah Mau, Fabian Soutar, Scott Jones.
Dragons: Michael Lett, Tom Hewitt, Frank Samia, Keith Lulia, Ronald Prince, Reece Blaney, Brad Davidson, Charlie Leano, Tony Caine, Danny Wicks, Ryan Powell (c), Sam Isemonger, Matt Prior; interchange Ricardo Young, Pat Rosser, Casey Ellis, James Jiminez.
Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm tomorrow
WARRIORS
1. Wade McKinnon
2. Michael Crockett
3. Todd Byrne
4. Simon Mannering
5. Manu Vatuvei
6. Michael Witt
7. Grant Rovelli
8. Ruben Wiki
9. George Gatis
10. Steve Price (c)
11. Louis Anderson
12. Logan Swann
13. Micheal Luck
Reserves: Nathan Fien , Wairangi Koopu, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira, Evarn Tuimavave.
DRAGONS
1. Ben HOrnby (c)
2. Jason Nightingale
3. Chase Stanley
4. Matt Cooper
5. Josh Morris
6. Rangi Chase
7. Jamie Soward
8. Justin Poore
9. Simon Woolford
10. Dan Hunt
11. Beau Scott
12. Chris Houston
13. Ben Creagh
Reserves: Adam Peek, Ben Ellis, Lagi Setu, Corey Payne.