Sunday, Mt Smart Stadium, midday
Referee: Tony De Las Heras

The Warriors are a mere shadow of the team that made last year's finals as one of the top-four teams. They may never have recovered from the 49-12 hiding the Cowboys gave them in the second week of that finals series, but there has got to be more to it than that. Injuries have been a significant contributor - they lost fullback Wade McKinnon for the season and prop and captain Steve Price was missing for most of the first half of the season - but beyond that there just hasn't been the same level of determination and enthusiasm evident this year. Their defence has let them down and that is the clearest indicator of a bad attitude in a side.

It is still a potentially difficult proposition for any team that has to go to Auckland, but the Sea Eagles are certainly capable of getting out of there with a win. Form says they should do that. The Sea Eagles recovered from a poor display in a narrow loss to the Dragons by scoring big wins over the Raiders and the Roosters and then they had the bye. They should be fresh and keen for this game and it is hard to see the Warriors containing them for the duration.

LATE MAIL
Manly coach Des Hasler is still undecided about the make-up of his bench to face the Warriors on Sunday. The Sea Eagles are likely to leave today with the 19 players chosen.

The Warriors are expected to be as named.
Glenn Jackson

WARRIORS: Lance Hohaia, Aidan Kirk, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (capt), Simon Mannering, Logan Swann, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira, Ben Matulino, Grant Rovelli (one to be omitted)

SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Steve Bell, Steve Matai, David Williams, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford (capt), Brent Kite, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Luke Williamson. Interchange: Heath L'Estrange, Glenn Hall, Mark Bryant, Steve Menzies, Vic Mauro, Adam Cuthbertson (two to be omitted)