Dolphins v Warriors: Nikorima eyes return; Montoya a chance

The stakes are high as two teams sitting outside the top eight chase two crucial competition points on Sunday afternoon. 

The Dolphins fell outside the eight for the first time since Round 1 with a 34-40 loss to the Roosters last weekend and they are desperate to snap a concerning run of five losses from their last six games. 

Coach Wayne Bennett has been in this position before and is sure to have his team primed for Sunday's clash with the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium. While their attack has been on song, the coach will have spent the week focused tightening up their defence.

The Warriors currently sit 13th on the ladder, five points behind eighth-placed St George Illawarra and need a win over the Dolphins to keep their finals hopes alive. 

They welcomed back veteran halfback Shaun Johnson for last week's loss to the Eels and they hope the playmaker will hit his stride in his second match back from an Achilles injury. 

The Warriors prevailed 24-20 when the two sides faced off earlier in the year and they will need to replicate that performance to get a win at Suncorp Stadium.