KEY POINTS:
The Warriors injury list is now half the length of the team list - Ruben Wiki out of the game against his old club Canberra at Mt Smart on Sunday with a hand injury and Sonny Fai joining him sideline with a shoulder problem.
Also in the stands with skipper Steve Price will be Manu Vatuvei (leg fracture), Jerome Ropati (knee) Patrick Ah Van (neck) and Wade McKinnon (knee) - seven out of contention, including their biggest attacking threats bar Brent Tate.
Micheal Luck is handed the captaincy, as he was until Wiki came on against the Gold Coast last Sunday, but more leadership will be required from other established players such as Logan Swann and Simon Mannering if the Warriors are to compete well.
Russell Packer is Wiki's replacement at prop. Just 18, he has been in the Warriors system for two years. He played Bartercard Cup for the Central Falcons at 17 and was the 2006 Junior Kiwis' captain so he has experience at top level. He also gained form this year as best prop in the new under-20s Toyota Cup where he made the most runs (128) He is gaining an average of 180 metres a game.
Packer is the second product out of the development programme this season after Fai and is the 23rd player used this season - the same number as for the whole of the 2006 season.
Fullback Aidan Kirk replaces Vatuvei on the left wing, after making his debut against Melbourne in game one this year then being used as a utility by the Auckland Vulcans, for whom he has scored three tries in the last five games.
Coach Ivan Cleary said they "just have to dig that little bit deeper against Canberra on Sunday. We've performed well at home and had our issues on the road but that doesn't mean it will all fall into place now we're back at Mt Smart Stadium. The boys love playing here and they'll need all the support possible on Sunday."
The bulk of the Raiders fly here on Friday but two of their best will have to come through Friday night's City-Country Origin game unscathed, then travel with the club's under-20s side on Saturday and back up on the Sunday - a tough ask for halfback Todd Carney and centre Joel Monaghan. Carney also has to adjust to the switch from playing five-eighth for Country back to halfback for Canberra.
But two more of their best come back after injury - captain and lock Alan Tongue (quadriceps), and hooker Lincoln Withers, eye. Both missed the round six loss to the Melbourne Storm in Canberra but are OK after that week off followed by the bye in round seven. Wing Brett Kelly also returns after a knee injury and two weeks in the Queensland Cup for Souths Logan.
The Raiders are one-from-three on the road, losing 30-14 in Newcastle and 32-12 on the Gold Coast, beating Penrith 20-16. The teams have met in Canberra for the last two seasons, the home side the winner both times.
Mt Smart Stadium, 4pm Sunday
WARRIORS
Lance Hohaia
Michael Crockett
Brent Tate
Ryan Shortland
Aidan Kirk
Michael Witt
Grant Rovelli
Sam Rapira
Nathan Fien
Evarn Tuimavave
Simon Mannering
Logan Swann
Micheal Luck (c)
RAIDERS
Bronx Goodwin
Colin Best
Adrian Purtell
Joel Monaghan
Brett Kelly
Terry Campese
Todd Carney
Scott Logan
Lincoln Withers
Troy Thompson
Marshall Chalk
Nigel Plum
Alan Tongue (c)
Warriors: Ian Henderson, Russell Packer, Epalahame Lauaki, Wairangi Koopu.
Raiders: Michael Dobson, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Dane Tilse, David Milne, Ben Jones.
