League: All eyes on battle of the sixes

Jarryd Hayne has been moved to five-eighths so he is closer to the action and can get his hands on the ball more often. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors v Eels
Mt Smart Stadium, 7.30 tonight

There are many points of interest in the Warriors-Eels clash at Mt Smart tonight, but top of the list is how the new five-eighths on each team will go.

The Warriors rate their new No 6 Joel Moon as the man to set their star-studded backline away.

The Eels have shifted wing/centre/fullback Jarryd Hayne to six with the aim of breaking the line more often in midfield and using his silky attacking skills by giving him more ball.

Daniel Anderson was at the club just a few weeks before switching 2008 five-eighth Feleti Mateo back to lock.

"Feleti wanted to be the five-eighth but every time we trained it became more obvious to him and to me that his true position was at lock and now I think he's happy back there."

The switch to Hayne was "a punt, but I think it's a good one. Hopefully it works. There's always a risk, but I'm confident".

Hayne showed his hand as five-eighth for the Fijian side that made the World Cup quarter-final against Australia and, though just 21, he has behind him five State of Origin games, one test for the Kangaroos and five for the Fijians plus 59 NRL matches. He's a big-game player and Anderson is banking on a big-game attitude.

"He's looking forward to it."

Moon played most of his 31 games for the Broncos at centre but grew through the grades as a No 6 and wants that spot.

In defence they should be about equal, both fast and powerful. Hayne may have an edge in composure.

Ticket sales were running hot yesterday and a full house of 23,200 is expected tonight, with the under-20s contest between two clubs with top juniors sides also promising good entertainment.

The Eels ran in Sydney yesterday and flew into Auckland late last night. Former Warrior Joe Galuvao and wing Taulima Tautai are expected to drop from the bench. The Warriors will take the field as named on Tuesday.

The clubs have a fascinating history in previous games, with the Eels 15-9 up in all contests.

In 2001, Anderson's first season in charge, Parramatta dumped the Warriors out of the NRL finals series in week one. In 2007, the Eels won 12-10 at Mt Smart in week one of the playoffs, sending the Warriors to an elimination in Townsville which was a flight too far.

In 2008, the Warriors had to win in the final of 26 rounds at Parramatta to make the playoffs and they did so, 28-6.

The Warriors won 34-18 in round-play at Mt Smart in 2007 and 30-16 in 2008 and have a run of six wins there in their last games of 2008.

The Warriors are rated third-best premiership chance with the bookies in Australia, behind 2008 grand finalists the Storm and Manly.

They are not used to this level of expectation but had to take it as a positive, coach Ivan Cleary said.

"I've found there's high expectation every year - we expect it of ourselves anyway."

Any team of the 16 could beat any other if attitude was not right, he said.

Cleary expected some errors to mar the game as fatigue set in but hoped extra attention to defence in the pre-season would help them hold their line.

He didn't expect the Eels to change their game plan too much despite Anderson's input. "A lot of guys will play a similar style regardless who coaches them."

The arrival of Moon would not influence the Warriors' own plans too much.

"He gives us some opportunities in our offence and some pretty good options in our kicking game, but otherwise nothing will change too much."

WARRIORS:

Wade McKinnon
Denan Kemp
Brent Tate
Jerome Ropati
Manu Vatuvei
Joel Moon
Nathan Fien
Sam Rapira
Ian Henderson
Steve Price (c)
Simon Mannering
Ben Matulino
Micheal Luck

Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Russell Packer, Jacob Lillyman, Leeson Ah Mau.

EELS:

Luke Burt
Joel Reddy
Ben Smith
Krisnan Inu
Eric Grothe
Jarryd Hayne
Brett Finch
N Cayless (c)
Matthew Keating
Josh Cordoba
N Hindmarsh
Weller Hauraki
Feleti Mateo

Interchange: Kris Keating, Todd Lowrie, Tim Mannah, Fuifui Moimoi, Taulima Tautai, Joe Galuvao