NRL: Finals action reward for beating Manly

The Warriors will move one step closer to securing home advantage for the NRL playoffs with victory this weekend against Manly. Photo / Getty Images

The prize on offer is significant for the Warriors as they head to Sydney to play Manly at Brookvale Oval on Saturday evening.

In a round that pits several finals contenders against each other, the winners will claim vital ground in the battle to secure home advantage for the opening week of the finals.

The losers will find themselves either scrapping for survival or, in some cases, dead in the water.

If the Warriors can topple a Manly side that suffered a heavy defeat by the Dragons on Monday night they will not only ice a finals berth, but also put four vital competition points between themselves and another dangerous playoff contender. That would go a long way to removing a possible trip to face Manly from the equation for the first week of the finals - something every team will be keen to achieve.

Two other matches will have a significant bearing on the Warriors' top four aspirations. On Friday night, a Panthers side that has just one win - against the lowly Cowboys - in its past six matches takes on the ninth-placed Rabbitohs.

Another defeat for the fourth-placed Panthers would leave them in danger of being overtaken by Warriors and Roosters clubs that are also on 24 points, while the Rabbitohs must win to keep their dwindling finals hopes alive.

The final match of the round, between the second-placed Titans and fifth-placed Roosters on Monday night will also have a major bearing on the makeup of the top four.

Hooker Ian Henderson has been named in the Warriors side to travel to Sydney, however he will need to recover from an ankle injury suffered in the closing minutes of Sunday's victory over the Knights.

"He's probably a doubtful starter at this stage but we haven't ruled him out of being able to take his place in the side," coach Ivan Cleary said.

He hasn't named any cover in an unchanged 17-man squad. Should Henderson not recover in time, his options include calling up promising Vulcans hooker Alehana Mara or adding Kevin Locke or Patrick Ah Van to the squad and using fullback Lance Hohaia to spell Aaron Heremaia.

Manly co-captain Jason King is free to play despite being charged with a grade one careless high tackle in the match against the Dragons. The low grading means King will escape suspension regardless of how he pleads to the charge.

Brookvale has a reputation as one of the tougher NRL grounds to visit, however the Warriors have a surprisingly good record there. Manly have won 11 of the 18 clashes between the clubs but the Warriors hold a 5-3 advantage at the Manly stronghold.

Manly have posted a 6-4 record at home this season, while the Warriors have the NRL's third-best road record, also 6-4.

Australian bookmaker footy TAB has installed Manly as favourites, handing the Warriors a points start of 4.5.

SEA EAGLES

Will Hopoate
Michael Robertson
Jamie Lyon
Steve Matai
Tony Williams
Kieran Foran
Trent Hodkinson
Jason King
Matt Ballin
Brent Kite
Anthony Watmough
Shane Rodney
Glenn Stewart

WARRIORS

Lance Hohaia
Bill Tupou
Brent Tate
Joel Moon
Manu Vatuvei
James Maloney
Brett Seymour
Ben Matulino
Ian Henderson
Russell Packer
Simon Mannering
Lewis Brown
Micheal Luck

Sea Eagles: Joe Galuvao, Matt Cross, George Rose, Chris Bailey.

Warriors: Aaron Heremaia, Jacob Lillyman, Sam Rapira, Ukuma Ta'ai.

Brookvale Oval, Saturday 7.30pm