Maumalo return timely ahead of Eels showdown

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said the return of powerhouse winger Ken Maumalo will lift the side in Saturday night's meeting with the Eels at Bankwest Stadium.

After being a late withdrawal last week due to concussion, Maumalo took part in full contact training this week and on Tuesday delivered a jolting tackle on Patrick Herbert.

Kearney said that play confirmed he's ready to go.

Maumalo heads into to round 19 sitting in the Telstra Premiership's top three for total runs, run meters and post-contact metres. He also has 12 tries in his 16 appearances.

Metrics aside, Kearney said the Kiwi international now carries an aura which makes everyone around him lift.

"When the boys have Ken in the team there's a sense of confidence," Kearney said.

"When he's carrying the footy he does a great job, and getting quick play the balls and helping Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck] with the sets out of the backfield.

"He's done a pretty good job finishing off some shift shape this year and got on the end of a few tries."

Even without injured NSW Origin winger Blake Ferguson, Warriors winger Gerard Beale – who is named to start again as David Fusitu'a battles a hamstring injury – said Parramatta's backline remains their biggest strength.

Beale said he would relish the chance to test himself against Parramatta's rookie sensation Maika Sivo, who currently leads the NRL with 13 tries.

"It's going to be a good battle on the flanks. I've got Sivo, which is going to be a big challenge and I love those challenges," Beale told NRL.com.

When the boys have Ken in the team there's a sense of confidence

Stephen Kearney on Ken Maumalo

"Sivo definitely provides a lot of momentum for their team and whenever I come up against someone doing well I see it as a chance to test myself."

At this stage, the return of Maumalo is the only change to the Warriors' 17 following last Friday's 19-18 win over Cronulla, although playmaker Kodi Nikorima remains in doubt after straining his ankle against the Sharks.

Nikorima didn't train for the first half of the week and will be given up until Friday to prove his fitness.

"The medical department are working their backsides off to get [Kodi] right," Kearney said.

"We will give him up to captain's run to try and pass some areas that we want him to get to."

The Warriors' have won just six times in 19 previous trips to face the Eels, and Parramatta have been a tough prospect at their new home ground, winning five of six in 2019.

Halfback Blake Green, who made his NRL debut for the Eels back in 2007, said he has a fair idea of what the atmosphere will be like on Saturday.  

"Obviously I've never played [at Bankwest] before, but Parramatta Stadium used to be a pretty hostile place. When they are going well they get plenty of support from their fans," Green said.

"They are a really passionate bunch down there, so I am expecting a pretty big crowd on Saturday and I'm sure they will be nice and loud."

Green said his side's 3-4 away record, which is as good as any bottom eight side's bar the Cowboys, meant they now look forward to trips across the Tasman.

"For team unity [away trips are] really important. It seems to work for us," Green said.

"We just get a heap of time together, we are living in each other's pockets really, spending all our downtime together.

"I wish I knew what the recipe was and could bring it to our home games."