Late Mail Friday: Gavet out, Afoa to start for Warriors

 All the latest injury and team news ahead of each match in round four of the 2018 Telstra Premiership.

• Round 4 NRL team lists
• NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 4
• Lone Scout's NRL Fantasy Q&A: Round 4
• NRL Tipping: what the experts say for round 4 

Sydney Roosters v New Zealand Warriors, 5.30pm Saturday at Allianz Stadium

Roosters: No changes are expected to the 17-man squad that will contest the match. Kurt Baptiste and Mitchell Cornish were the two players dropped from the squad 24 hours out from kick-off.

Warriors: James Gavet is out of the Warriors team, with Bunty Afoa (No.17) to start at prop. Agnatius Paasi and Adam Blair swap between prop and lock while Tevita Satae replaces the suspended Sam Lisone on the bench. Along with Gavet, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was the other player dropped from the squad 24 hours out from kick-off.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Canberra Raiders, 7.35pm Saturday at Lottoland

Sea Eagles: The Sea Eagles have no other injury concerns heading into the Raiders clash after news Jorge Taufua would miss the next two months with a broken collarbone. There was speculation Jackson Hastings could move into the starting side this week with Lachlan Croker to make way, but Trent Barrett hosed down those suggestions at the side's final training run on Friday. Moses Suli will make his club debut for Blacktown Workers next weekend. Lewis Brown and Thomas Wright were the two players dropped from the squad 24 hours out from kick-off. 

Raiders: Ricky Stuart indicated the side was likely to be 1-17 should in-doubt trio Aidan Sezer (back), Iosia Soliola (ankle) and Joseph Tapine (finger) pull up fine after the captain's run on Friday morning. Blake Austin has been dropped from the bench 24 hours out from kick-off. 21 Ata Hingano and Joseph Tapine are the two new faces on the bench this week. Jack Murchie was the other player omitted 24 hours out from game time. 

 

 St George Illawarra Dragons v Newcastle Knights, 4.10pm Sunday at WIN Stadium

Dragons: The Dragons are not affected by injuries to start the season and are again expected to be 1-17 for the clash with the Newcastle Knights on Sunday.

Knights: Chris Heighington is set to take his place in the line-up after being a late withdrawal against the Roosters. Nathan Brown could make a late change after indicating his disappointment over his players' efforts in last week's loss, with speculation Nathan Ross could make way for Ken Sio. Connor Watson is set to miss six to eight weeks with a shoulder injury, not the 12 weeks initially feared.

Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans, 6.30pm Sunday at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: The Broncos have no further injury concerns ahead of the local derby clash with the Titans after losing Tevita Pangai jnr and Corey Oates earlier in the week. Both Matt Lodge and James Roberts stepped away from training on Thursday. Roberts had to attend to a private matter while Lodge had a minor injury, and neither are in any doubt for Sunday's local derby. 

Titans: Ash Taylor and Ryan James (both head injury assessment) have been cleared to play the Broncos after follow-up tests earlier in the week.

Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels, 4pm Monday at ANZ Stadium

Wests Tigers: Benji Marshall is confident of overcoming an ankle injury after getting through training drills. Tui Lolohea and Jacob Liddle are training with the side and are genuine chances of a return if Ivan Cleary opts for late changes for the Easter Monday clash.

Eels: After a growing injury toll, there are expected to be no changes to the side that was named on Tuesday.

NRL Casualty Ward: Round 4

Brisbane Broncos
Tevita Pangai jnr (hamstring, round 5-6)
Corey Oates (hip, round 5-6)
Jordan Kahu (jaw, round 9-12)
Andre Savelio (knee, season)

Canberra Raiders
Joseph Tapine (finger, round 4-6)
Royce Hunt (knee, round 6-7)
Charlie Gubb (groin, round 9)
Josh Hodgson (knee, round 18) 

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Moses Mbye (concussion)
Aiden Tolman (ankle)
Josh Cleeland (ankle, indefinite) 

Cronulla Sharks
Matt Moylan (hamstring, round 5)
Luke Lewis (foot, round 4)
Sione Katoa (broken jaw, round 6)
Jayson Bukuya (groin, round 7) 

Gold Coast Titans
Brendan Elliot (ankle, round 5)
Jack Stockwell (shoulder, round 5) 

Manly Sea Eagles
Dylan Walker (leg/ankle, round 5)
Jorge Taufua (collarbone, round 12) 

Melbourne Storm
Kenny Bromwich (back, round 5)
Jahrome Hughes (shoulder, round 5)
Felise Kaufusi (hamstring, round 5)
Sandor Earl (knee, season)

Newcastle Knights
Tom Hughes (ankle, round 6)
Connor Watson (shoulder, round 10-12)
Nick Meaney (ankle, round 13)

North Queensland Cowboys

Jordan McLean was the major concern to come out of the side's loss to Penrith with a foot injury. The Cowboys are hopeful prop McLean's foot injury is not serious but they're unlikely to get a full diagnosis until scans on Saturday. Javid Bowen (concussion) pulled up OK after a head knock but will have appropriate testing in a bid to play in next week's clash with the Warriors.

Lachlan Coote (hamstring, round 4)
Shaun Fensom (leg, round 5)
Kane Linnett (pectoral, round 13)Javid Bowen (concussion, round 5)
Jordan McLean (foot, scans to confirm)

Parramatta Eels
Bevan French (shoulder, round 5-6)
Kane Evans (ribs, round 6)
Jarryd Hayne (quad, round 5-9)
Greg Leleisiuao (ankle, round 7)
Clint Gutherson (knee, round 8)
Brad Takairangi (eye socket, round 10)

Penrith Panthers

Panthers forward Isaah Yeo suffered a concussion in Thursday night's win over the Cowboys but will fly back to Sydney on Friday. He pulled up OK after the game and as long as he passes the concussion protocols next week, he's a fair chance of lining up in next Sunday's game against Parramatta.

Isaah Yeo (concussion, round 5)
Tyrone May (knee, round 5)
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (jaw, round 7)
Tyrone Phillips (pectoral, round 10)
Nathan Cleary (knee, round 13)
Sam McKendry (knee, season)

South Sydney Rabbitohs
Robert Jennings (concussion)
Campbell Graham (hand, indefinite)
Adam Reynolds (knee, round 5)
Tyrell Fuimaono (dislocated toe, round 14)

St George Illawarra Dragons
No injuries.

Sydney Roosters
Daniel Tupou (pectoral, round 13-15)

Warriors
Simon Mannering (shoulder, round 5)
Gerard Beale (leg, round 8)
Isaiah Papali'i (knee, round 8)
Nathaniel Roache (neck, season)

Wests Tigers
Benji Marshall (ankle, round 4)
Jacob Liddle (shoulder, round 5)
Tui Lolohea (knee, round 5)
Josh Reynolds (hamstring, round 5)
Elijah Taylor (hamstring, round 6-8)