Struggling Warriors edge on high alert against Manly

After being exposed badly by the Wests Tigers in round two, the Warriors' right edge players are expecting a hammering from the Manly Sea Eagles in Christchurch.

Of the seven tries the Warriors have conceded across the opening fortnight of the NRL Telstra Premiership, five have come down their right side, with the new combination of Solomone Kata and David Fusitu'a leaking four times in the 34-6 defeat to the Tigers.

Speaking to NRL.com, Fusitu'a said he was fully aware Daly Cherry-Evans and the Sea Eagles were likely to target his side of the field on Saturday afternoon.

"If they are looking at the video then you would think so," Fusitu'a said.

"We have let in a few tries there and I think it just comes down to connection.

"I felt like we were short a couple of times [against the Tigers], but sometimes you are given short numbers and you have just got to make your plays and unfortunately we weren't able to.

"We have got to learn from it… I feel like we have been training quite well on defence at training, so it's just a matter of putting it out there when it counts on game day."

Fusitu'a also expressed frustration after being involved in an ugly mid-air collision while jumping to claim an attacking kick against the Tigers, the second time it has happened to him in as many games this year.

NRL rules offer protection to defending players jumping to take an opposition kick, but not for attacking players.

While stopping short of coach Stephen Kearney's calls for an overhaul of the rules, Fusitu'a suggested it may be a deliberate tactic from opposing teams.

"I guess when you have me and Ken [Maumalo] who are both quite good in the air, they are obviously going to be trying to contest us a lot more in the air so they can put more pressure on us," Fusitu'a told NRL.com.

"It's not in our control at the moment. Those are the rules as it is at the moment, so we just have to play by them.

"It's a little bit scary in the air sometimes when you get taken out from under you. You kind of have a moment there when you are on the ground and you check yourself."

Meanwhile Adam Blair told NRL.com the Warriors were well placed to cover for the loss of prop Sam Lisone, who was hit with a two-game ban at the NRL judiciary this week for a crusher-style tackle in round two.

"We've got plenty of middles around here. He [Lisone] is gone for two weeks but we have got a lot of boys who are pushing for spots in the team," Blair said.

"Isaiah [Papali'i] is back in the picture and some of the boys in the [Canterbury] Cup team who have been in the NRL previously are pushing for those spots.

"I think [Manly] have got a really good forward pack to be honest. Those guys are international players and big boys who can carry the ball well if you give them the opportunity to.

"It's a challenge not only for our middle group, but for the team to be able to keep the ball away from them as much as we can, and when they do run, that we are committed and ready."