The Warriors will use a poll that showed two-thirds of the National Rugby League players don't want them in the competition as motivation against South Sydney this weekend.
The Sydney Sunday Telegraph poll, headlined "Get rid of the Auckland Warriors, was shown to the side by the coaching staff with the intention of firing them up for the game at Ericsson this Sunday.
The message was: "They're showing you no respect - do something about it.
But injury and suspensions continue to restrict coach Mark Graham's selections as he tries to turn around a string of four losses, with only 16 of the signed-on squad of 25 available.
The casualty list includes:
Awen Guttenbeil, recovering from a broken ankle - still three to four weeks before he can run.
Monty Betham, knee recon-struction, out for the season.
Jason Death, broken jaw, out for a further three to four weeks.
Lee Oudenryn, broken thumb and torn thumb ligaments, out for around seven weeks.
Gene Ngamu, faces surgery for compartment syndrome in leg muscles on Friday, out several more weeks.
Brady Malam, abdominal muscle strain, a 50/50 prospect for Sunday.
And still suspended after the Balmain game are skipper Matthew Ridge, Nigel Vagana and Tony Tuimavave.
The one bit of good news is Syd Eru's return after two months out for surgery to wrist ligaments. Eru came through a run with the new Tornadoes club in their 38-28 win over Manukau at the weekend without drama and has proved in training that fitness won't be a problem.
Coach Graham, assistant Mike McClennan, trainer Sam Panapa, Auckland development officer Mike Rawiri and national nines coach Graeme Norton have all been scouting the Auckland club competition in recent weeks for talent to replace the ousted.
Despite the losses, and the youth and inexperience he'll take up against Souths, Graham isn't panicking. His reasoning is that by season's end there'll be that many more players with NRL experience available to him.
So in come Marist wing/centre Francis Meli, Mt Albert wing/fullback and kicker Karl Dougherty and Otahuhu second rower lock Clinton Toopi.
Meli was part of the Auckland under-19 side that handed the touring Australians a defeat at Carlaw Park last year. He attracted attention with an intercept and 60 metre run for a try, outpacing Parramatta centre Luke Burt who is reputedly one of the Eels' fastest.
Graham Lowe, now Warriors chairman, went to the locals' dressing room after that game and congratulated the side, telling them they'd be watched and opportunities were there for those who wanted them.
Meli, 18, and Toopi, 19, have both been training with the premiership side for two weeks to cover for injuries and on Sunday the opportunity Lowe spoke of arrives for Meli as he slots in with Joe Galuvao in the centres. Toopi is on the bench and Dougherty named as 18th man.
The Rabbitohs have injury troubles - props Ian Rubin and Mark Carroll sidelined and coach Craig Coleman pressing Carroll to make an early return from a broken foot and turned knee.
Off-field, negotiations continue to re-sign big Joe Vagana, off his Warriors contract after this season and available to talk to other clubs from June 30.
Auckland Warriors: Cliff Beverley, Odell Manuel, Joe Galuvao, Frances Meli, Sean Hoppe, Shane Endacott, Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Syd Eru, Jerry Seu Seu, Tony Tatupu, Wairangi Koopu, Logan Swann; interchange, Clinton Toopi, Peter Lewis, Ali Lauitiiti, Terry Hermansson, Karl Dougherty (one to be omitted).
South Sydney (likely): Tim Brasher, Craig Wing, Brett Rodwell, Jason Nicol, Lee Hookey, Julian O'Neill, Darren Trindall, Matt Parsons, Sean Garlick, Justin Doyle, Tony Iro, James Smith, Jeremy Schloss; interchange, Chris Caruana, Wayne Richards, Paul McNicholas, Robert Tocco.