KEY POINTS:
New signings Michael Witt, Michael Crockett and Corey Lawrie will wear the New Zealand Warriors jersey for the first time in Sunday's trial game against the Auckland Lions in Auckland.
While ex-Parramatta and Manly standoff Witt and former Wests Tigers winger Crockett have NRL experience, Lawrie and the
seven players named on the bench are yet to make their first-grade debuts.
Witt, 23, has been partnered in the halves for the Warriors' first hit-out of 2007 with Grant Rovelli, who played in all of the team's 24 NRL matches last season.
Crockett, 23, who has scored seven tries in his eight first-grade matches, is on the left wing while Lawrie will start at loose forward in the match at Mt Smart Stadium.
Lawrie, who turns 27 today, was signed from Bartercard Cup side the Canterbury Bulls. The bench includes only one player who isn't a teenager - forward Wayne McDade, 25.
Sonny Fai, 18, who has travelled as 18th man for the Vodafone Warriors, is joined by 17-year-olds Russell Packer and Constantine Mika and three 19-year-olds, Malo Solomona, Miguel Start and Scott Jones.
The last five are all on super elite contracts, which has enabled them to train fulltime with the NRL squad.
There is plenty of NRL experience among the rest of the side for what head coach Ivan Cleary is using as a chance to look at options for the two NRL trials, against North Queensland in Mackay on February 24 and the Bulldogs at North Harbour Stadium on March 3.
Lance Hohaia will start at fullback and winger Cooper Vuna, with five NRL matches on the wing, is in the centres with Tony Martin.
"For this trial, it's a good chance to have a look at what some players can do in other positions," Cleary said.
"It also allows us to give our younger players the experience of playing alongside first graders in a genuine trial."
Not being used on Sunday are new signings Wade McKinnon and Logan Swann plus Steve Price, Ruben Wiki, Wairangi Koopu, Nathan Fien, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Micheal Luck and Simon Mannering. Not considered were Patrick Ah Van and new fullback Aidan Kirk, who are both coming back from off-season surgery.
The trial is also important for the Auckland Lions for their debut in the New South Wales Premier League this year.
WARRIORS v LIONS
(Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm, Sunday)
Lance Hohaia, Todd Byrne, Tony Martin, Cooper Vuna, Michael Crockett, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Sam Rapira, George Gatis, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Louis Anderson, Corey Lawrie.
Interchange: Sonny Fai, Wayne McDade, Russell Packer, Constantine Mika, Malo Solomona, Miguel Start, Scott Jones
- NZPA
