Richie Barnett: Seymour holds key to Mt Smart fortunes

Brett Seymour is on track to return for the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

The next three weeks are absolutely crucial to the Warriors' season.

With this Sunday's game against the Knights followed by a bye and then another winnable match against the Roosters in Christchurch, it's vital the Warriors bank the six points on offer.

If they don't it will be a long way back to reach the playoffs.

You just wonder whether Sunday's loss to the Dragons will come back to haunt them.

It was a game the Warriors could have and probably should have won. Instead the two-point defeat leaves them in a precarious position at the halfway point of the season.

To reach the playoffs they'll likely need to bank at least 28 points - from 12 wins and two byes. If they slip up at Newcastle or against the Roosters they'll be in a position where they need to win four or five games in row down the stretch.

That can be done - incredibly the 13th-placed team at this stage of the season has gone on to make the playoffs in each of the past four years - but it sure ain't easy. The Warriors have done it before, but they certainly don't want to be banking on another late run.

Brett Seymour has had an unlucky run with injuries so far at the club, but I still think he will be the key figure for the Warriors this season. If the team can bank a couple of wins before Seymour comes back to lead them around, then they'll be well placed to make a run to the playoffs.

The Knights game is one they should win. The Knights rank last in the competition in overall metres gained.

They are without their best player and captain Kurt Gidley and also have key figures such as Steve Simpson and former Warriors Cooper Vuna - who has signed with the Melbourne Rebels next season - out at the moment.

All season the Knights have struggled to find someone to complement Jarrod Mullen in the halves.

The one area they have been strong is in metres gained by the back three. Vuna and Gidley have played a part in that, and they are out, but Akuila Uate is by far the most dangerous member of that back three.

If he isn't the quickest player in the competition he'd be very close to it. He has been sensational this season. The Warriors will need to watch him closely and their kick-chase game will have to be spot on.

They will also need a big effort from some of the guys who haven't quite been at the top of their game so far this season.

Kevin Locke is at the top of that list. He needs to pull his finger out. With his pace and ability he should be winning matches for this side. He needs to get his hands on the ball more and make things happen, just like he did last Sunday to set up Isaac John's try.

John was terrific against the Dragons. His organisational skills were outstanding. If he can keep up that sort of form there's every chance the Warriors will pick up the wins they need before their reinforcements return from injury.

It's no surprise John has been shifted to halfback this week. With John running the game, James Maloney should be freed up to play a bit more, which is his real strength.

Jesse Royal is another player who needs to step up. With Sam Rapira and Steve Price out, Jesse is one of the most experienced props, so we need to start seeing more of him. This time next week we should be talking about how he has stepped up, not about how hard he can be to spot.

He's playing against his old club so he should have plenty of motivation.

One player who has certainly been doing the job is Ukuma Ta'ai. The big Tongan has been awesome. He breaks the line all the time but the Warriors aren't taking full advantage of those breaks.

It would be nice to see Lance Hohaia running off Ta'ai a bit more to support the breaks and pick up the offloads. The centres also need to push up on Ta'ai and hopefully Joel Moon will do more of that on Sunday.

There were high hopes for Moon when he came to the club but at the moment he looks as if he is just filling a void. He has never really looked the part at five-eighth but with Brent Tate injured he has a chance to show what he can do at centre.

So put Moon down as one of the guys who needs to step up. If those guys can lift then the whole team will lift and the Warriors will get the job done. They certainly need to. They can't afford many more slip-ups.