Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney has retained the same starting line-up used in the club's final trial for his debut NRL match in charge against the Newcastle Knights at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday.
Albert Vete and Charlie Gubb will again start in the front row as they did in the 26-6 win over the Gold Coast Titans in Palmerston North on February 19.
Mafoa'aeata Hingano is confirmed at standoff, Ken Maumalo on the left wing and Ryan Hoffman and Bunty Afoa are paired in the second row.
The match doubles as Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's first NRL outing since April 16 last year and also his first-grade debut as captain.
"Those players earned the opportunity for the first match of the season," said Kearney.
"There were a lot of good signs from them against the Titans. Having said that, there are lots of areas we need to improve on."
Warriors Round 1 squad
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c)
2 Tuimoala Lolohea
3 David Fusitua
4 Solomone Kata
5 Ken Maumalo
6 Mafoa'aeata Hingano
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Albert Vete
9 Issac Luke
10 Charlie Gubb
11 Bunty Afoa
12 Row Ryan Hoffman
13 Simon Mannering
Interchange:
14 Erin Clark
15 Jacob Lillyman
16 Samuel Lisone
17 Isaiah Papali'i
Reserves:
18 Bodene Thompson
20 Mason Lino
21 James Gavet
22 Blake Ayshford
This article first appeared on warriors.kiwi
