Townsend has battled since his
mid-season arrival, after being cynically taken out in his first appearance against the Dragons in early July, limited to just five games in his second stint at the Auckland.
Prop Bunty Afoa strained a hamstring in training on Tuesday and has been replaced by Jazz Tevaga in the 17.
There could be further tweaks, with Matt Lodge named in the front row, pending a judicial hearing on Tuesday night, after copping a grade one dangerous contact charge from the Raiders match last Friday.
Peta Hiku will make his 73rd and final Warriors appearance this weekend, before he heads to the North Queensland Cowboys.
WARRIORS v GOLD COAST TITANS
4.00pm (NZT) Sunday, September 5, 2021
Cbus Super Stadium, Robina
WARRIORS
1 Reece Walsh
2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3 Peta Hiku
4 Rocco Berry
5 Marcelo Montoya
6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
7 Sean O'Sullivan
8 Addin Fonua-Blake (c)
9 Wayde Egan
10 Matt Lodge
11 Josh Curran
12 Euan Aitken
13 Bayley Sironen
Interchange:
14 Kodi Nikorima
15 Eliesa Katoa
16 Kane Evans
17 Jazz Tevaga
18 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
20 Adam Pompey
21 Jack Murchie
22 Edward Kosi
