League: Injury sidelines Jones for preseason hit-out

Stacey Jones aka "the little general" will sit out the Vodafone Warriors match against the Gold Coast Titans. Photo / Getty Images.

Injury has ruled out former Kiwis rugby league international Stacey Jones from the New Zealand Warriors' pre-season match against Gold Coast in Australia tonight.

Jones, 32, was named to play in the match at Lismore but was withdrawn as a precaution as he battles a calf muscle niggle.

The champion halfback had 40-minute stints in each of his team's first two pre-season matches against Melbourne and North Queensland.

Coach Ivan Cleary said there was no point risking Jones at this stage of the year.

It means Nathan Fien is now likely to share the halfback's role with new signing Aaron Heremaia, an Auckland Vulcans regular last year.

- NZPA