ROOKIE Warriors winger Aidan Kirk will line up alongside Wade McKinnon for the first time in Saturday night's preliminary final against Manly after the fiery fullback was rushed back into the side following his three-match suspension for spitting at a touch judge.

Despite the Warriors' stunning finals-series defeats of Melbourne and Sydney Roosters without McKinnon, coach Ivan Cleary yesterday had no hesitation in recalling him to the starting side and shifting in-form utility Lance Hohaia to the interchange bench. McKinnon's availability means the Warriors will be at full strength for the first time this year after he ruptured his cruciate ligament in a pre-season trial.

Kirk, whose first season with the Warriors was spent on the sidelines after also injuring his knee while playing for Newtown in the 2006 premier league grand final, was recovering from a torn hamstring when McKinnon made his first comeback in round 22. The 22-year-old winger, who sealed last Friday night's elimination of the Roosters with a long range intercept try, still suffers from tendonitis that could shorten his career and means he takes three days to recover from a match.

McKinnon shunned the media at training yesterday but Cleary said it wasn't a hard decision to recall one of his key attacking weapons for the grand final qualifier.

"It's all about picking the best team," Cleary said. "I think Wade is the best fullback at the club and having Lance off the bench I feel like the team has been strengthened.

"Wade's been hurting the last few weeks. But he's been positive around the boys and training hard. He'll do his absolute best for the team. It's really tough on Lance but Wade is our first-choice fullback and he showed what a quality player he is the moment he came back from his lay-off."

Despite admitting he had struggled with the bench role earlier in the year, Hohaia said he was comfortable with his move to the bench and was preparing to deputise for Ian Henderson at dummy half.

"I am a little disappointed but I sort of expected Wade to be back in the side once he was available to play," Hohaia said. "The coach knows I am happy to come off the bench and play pretty much wherever he wants me to. It is something that I have become used to.

"At the start when I was being moved around positions it was a little frustrating. I wasn't too sure about what sort of role I played within the team but I am pretty comfortable with it now and I am looking forward to the weekend."

Manly have selected the same team that beat St George Illawarra two weeks ago, with Adam Cuthbertson 18th man again.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy was forced to make two changes to his side for Friday night's clash with Cronulla following the loss of Test back-rowers Ryan Hoffman (ankle) and Jeremy Smith (suspension). Scott Anderson and Aiden Tolman are the new faces in the 17-man squad named yesterday and either Brett Anderson, Joseph Tomane or Sam Tagatese is expected to join them if skipper Cameron Smith is banned for two games at tonight's judiciary. Sika Manu moves to the starting line-up with Anderson and Tolman added to the interchange.

Cronulla confirmed Blake Green would start at five-eighth for the injured Brett Seymour (knee), while Terence Seu Seu returns to an extended six-man bench that includes Grant Millington and Mitch Brown.

¡ Sydney Roosters are poised to sign English utility back Jordan Tansey from Super League club Leeds.

However, the Roosters are unlikely to agree to a swap for Kiwis Test centre Sia Soliola, whom Leeds coach Brian McClennan has identified as a possible replacement for former Warriors star Clinton Toopi. Soliola, 22, was given his Test debut by McClennan and it is believed the former New Zealand coach is keen to lure him to England after Toopi announced he was returning to New Zealand to play Super 14 rugby.

Tansey is a five-eighth, who has been primarily used off the interchange bench for Leeds this season as he can also cover a number of other positions.