After welcoming halfback Nicho Hynes back and promptly blowing the Dragons away last week, the Sharks play host to an in-form Warriors side who are 3-1 after outlasting the Bulldogs in Round 4.
Hynes made the world of difference in his first game back from a calf injury, helping his side run in five second-half tries to record a 40-8 win, with the No.7 having a hand in three tries and laying on five of their 11 line breaks.
All up Cronulla ran for almost 500 metres more than the Dragons last week, led by a back five who all clocked up over 120 metres of running.
A good start will be crucial for the Warriors, who last week leaked first points for the fourth time in as many games, although they'll take confidence from being resilient enough to battle back and win the game in the final quarter, with stoic goal-line defence a feature of the win.
Off the back of an 88 percent completion rate, the Warriors were able to wear the Bulldogs down, with Shaun Johnson starring and bench duo Jazz Tevaga and Dylan Walker changing the game when they came on.
The Sharks won both clashes against the Warriors last year and PointsBet Stadium has been a miserable hunting ground for the New Zealand-based side historically too, with just five victories there in 19 visits.
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Team news
Sharks: The home side is 1-17. Braydon Trindall returns from an ankle injury and joins the interchange bench. Oregon Kaufusi (failed HIA) was ruled out inside the opening 15 minutes last week and will miss the match. Coach Craig Fitzgibbon sticks with the same starting 13 that racked up 40 points against the Dragons with Sam Stonestreet the 18th man if required.
Warriors: Tohu Harris was removed from the squad 24 hours out from kick-off, with the skipper unable to overcome the knee injury he suffered in Round 4. He is replaced in the run-on side by Jazz Tevaga, with Josh Curran the new man on the bench. Ronald Volkman replaces Te Maire Martin (head knock), while Wayde Egan returns at hooker after missing last week with a head knock. Freddy Lussick is 18th man.
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Stat Attack
- The Sharks have won 10 of their past 12 games against the Warriors.
- The Warriors have not won at PointsBet Stadium since 2015.
- Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored 14 tries in 15 games at PointsBet Stadium.
- Only five Warriors players have tasted an NRL victory at PointsBet Stadium.
- Sharks captain Dale Finucane has won his past 11 games against the Warrior.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.