KEY POINTS:
Ruben Wiki runs out to play his 300th game tomorrow on the Leichhardt Oval turf where his career in the Australian premiership began back in 1993.
It was an inauspicious start: the teenager who had recently shifted from Otara to Canberra anxious to prove his worth, lasted just
minutes in the under-23s curtainraiser before he was sent off for a high shot.
Tomorrow, the 35-year-old Warriors vice-captain runs out as holder of the world record for test appearances and will be just the 10th person to reach the milestone of 300 matches in the toughest game going.
The NRL has granted permission for Wiki to wear a specially embroidered jersey. The Tigers will show their respect by showing a feature on the big screen at the ground.
Their coach, Tim Sheens, who signed Wiki as a 19-year-old and quickly elevated him to first grade, said he'd shake his hand after the game. "I'll be quite happy if he gets sent off, as long as he doesn't do too much damage," Sheens joked.
Wiki's Canberra centre partner, Mal Meninga, told the Warriors this week how he remembered Wiki's first game for the club. "Tim told us he was really excited about this young kid named Ruben Wiki ...
Well, it was only a couple of minutes before he got sent off and we all looked at each other and said, `Gee, Sheensy has got a good one here, hasn't he? This guy can't stay on the footy field'."
Wiki went on to play 225 games for the club, winning a premiership in 1994. Sheens said it was a fantastic achievement for Wiki to make 300 games in the modern era. The shift from backs to forwards had obviously prolonged his involvement because not many forwards made the mark.
The Tigers expect the Warriors to play with an element of "doing it for Ruben" but the Tigers could not concern themselves with that, Sheens said. "It's our attitude and what we do that's important."
The mid-suburbia Leichhardt ground has generally been good to the Tigers, who play just two games at the old Balmain track each season.
This year they beat the Titans there 20-18. Last season they thrashed North Queensland 54-10 in a game where they celebrated one of their own, fullback and captain Brett Hodgson, playing his 200th game. But then the Warriors went on to win 28-16 at Campbelltown at this time last season.
The Warriors must press the size and power advantage they have up front and Wiki should be at the forefront of this. The Tigers are minus three of their regular props, Ryan O'Hara out with a broken jaw, Keith Galloway with a foot injury and Todd Payten with a hamstring tear.
Bench second rower Bronson Harrison steps up and former Hull KR prop Ryan Tandy gets a run.
Newcomer to league Daine Laurie, 23, gets his second game from the bench, mainly because of his 198cm, 112kg frame, Sheens indicating he'd like the big Aboriginal to have more lower-grade experience first.
The Tigers are also without backrowers Corey Payne who withdrew this week with a shoulder problem and Danny Galea whose season ended when he tore his Achilles at training last week, plus wing Shannon McDonnell who suffered a hamstring tear in the one-point loss in Brisbane last weekend.
So, the visitors' loss of Steve Price and Brent Tate to the Queensland camp is more than compensated for and there can be no excuses. There was clearly a lack of communication in defence as Manly scored easy tries to snatch victory last weekend and that's where the impact of the two Queenslanders will be most missed _ in leadership.
It is those momentary lapses the Warriors have to rectify if they are to win at Leichhardt, otherwise they'll be looking at the boot soles of Marshall and Hodgson. If they lose again, they can kiss goodbye to all hopes of playing through September towards the title game.
WARRIORS
Lance Hohaia
Aidan Kirk
Simon Mannering
Jerome Ropati
Malo Solomona
Michael Witt
Nathan Fien
Ruben Wiki
Ian Henderson
Sam Rapira
Ben Matulino
Logan Swann
Micheal Luck (c)
WEST TIGERS
Brett Hodgson
Taniela Tuiaki
Dean Collis
Chris Lawrence
Beau Ryan
Benji Marshall
Matt Head
Bronson Harrison
Robbie Farah
Bryce Gibbs
Ben Te'o
Chris Heighington
Liam Fulton
Interchange
Warriors: Patrick Ah Van, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Sonny Fai.
West Tigers: John Morris, Dene Halatau, Daine Laurie, Ryan Tandy.