NRL: Stability gives Johnson and Warriors chance to cut the error rate

Shaun Johnson believes consistent selections will reap rewards. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson believes a settled line-up will help him reach his best form in tonight's clash against Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

Having the same starting side that took the field against Melbourne on Easter Monday will help the home team's cause after a rotating cast of backline players chopped and changed their right-side combinations through the opening five rounds.

Johnson, the right-edge playmaker, isn't doing cartwheels yet. More time together is needed before combinations become intuitive but the No7 believes the consistent selections will reap rewards.

"It's going to be really good. I think this is the first week I've had the same edge," Johnson said. "Combinations at this level are so important, building relationships with players, so it's going to be important to keep the same edge together for a while."

While injuries have affected coach Andrew McFadden's playing resources and limited his selection options, Johnson has struggled to make his presence felt in the Warriors attack.

There were encouraging signs in his play in the losses to Brisbane and Melbourne and the 24-year-old says he is working his way into form.

"I'm starting to feel pretty good out there and the last couple of weeks have been really good for me," he said.

"Again on Monday I found myself in the game and contributing, and it's just about building on that.

"I'm still working hard at training so there's no time to get frustrated and as soon as I start doing that my focus will be going elsewhere. I think it's coming."

Reducing a shocking error rate and improving their set completions is paramount to the Warriors' hopes of registering a third win for the year.

Despite their struggles they have managed to keep themselves in the grind until the latter stages of the past two games and Johnson feels there are positives to build on if they can eliminate the mistakes.

"We're making all these errors but we are still there or thereabouts," the playmaker said.

"If we can fix that stuff we will start getting some results so ball security is going to be at the top of our list this weekend."

Containing the Tigers' aggressive forward trio of Adam Woods, Keith Galloway and Martin Taupau will be the focus of the Warriors' pack and the key to helping them celebrate Manu Vatuvei's 200-game milestone in style.

"They're a very powerful side. If our middle guys can really do a job on their middles it will go a really long way towards helping us get the two points. I know they're up for the challenge."