KEY POINTS:
Wests Tigers are one of the form teams in the National Rugby League with four wins on the run, but coach Tim Sheens was wary of the wounded New Zealand Warriors heading into their clash at Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
The New Zealand outfit will be without inspirational captain Steve Price, in camp with the Queensland Origin side, but Sheens insisted this was not a good week to be travelling across the Tasman.
The four-time premiership coach said the Warriors would be hurting after surrendering an 18-6 lead with 12 minutes to go against Newcastle to lose 24-18 last Saturday night.
"We've had a tough time of it over there - we haven't had many good results at all," Sheens said of his side's two wins from six in Auckland - the last way back in 2001.
"And no, I don't think this is a good time to have to meet them at all.
"They'll be seething about how they lost last week and they'll be up for us and ready to take it out on us."
Last round's two try hero Liam Fulton will again partner John Morris in the Tigers halves and Sheens said he would be watching the pair closely, still not confident he's plugged the gaping hole left by injured star Benji Marshall.
"I'm not going to get too carried away with how well Liam Fulton is going," said Sheens.
"He's had one game at five-eighth and he scored a couple of tries, which is obviously good for him, but they both came because of good support play.
"I certainly don't think we've already fixed the problems we have when Benji isn't there.
"But look, it'd be silly not to be happy with four wins in a row, I just know we're a long way from being great.
"It wasn't long ago we went four games without a win and we were all embarrassed."
In Price's absence, added pressure is on young New Zealand international Sam Rapira to provide the Warriors' go-forward in the front row, alongside his idol Ruben Wiki.
"The coach has been telling me at training all week I have to step up," Rapira said.
"I'm used to coming off the bench and being more of an impact player. I won't play the full 80 minutes but still the boys will be relying on me more than I'm probably used to, but it should be a real good test.
"To be honest, it's a bit of a thrill too, because I get to play alongside Ruben.
"I looked up to him growing up, you know being a Kiwi and all that."
Returning form suspension, Michael Witt will play halfback for the Warriors in place of Grant Rovelli, who was dumped to Premier League.
The Warriors also welcome back classy fullback Wade McKinnon and centre and goalkicker Tony Martin.
Both sides sit on ten points after nine rounds, the Tigers' superior points differential edging them one place ahead of the Warriors into sixth.
Kick-off is at 4pm (NZ time).
- AAP
