The Dolphins will field their first-choice spine for the first time in five weeks in an away clash with the Warriors that has major implications for the NRL top eight.
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See subscription optionsA loss on Friday night for the fourth-placed Warriors (30 points) will open the door for Penrith (27) to edge within one-point of them if the Panthers win on the Gold Coast the following day.
The Dolphins are in eighth position on 24 points and have the best for-and-against (+169) of any side apart from Melbourne. A win will effectively put them two victories ahead of ninth-positioned Manly (24 points), who host the 10th-placed Sydney Roosters on Saturday night.
Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima will return from a hamstring injury in Auckland for his first match since the round 17 win over South Sydney. He completed the captain's run on Thursday and is a certain starter.
On the flip side the Warriors have been forced to make key changes with hooker Wade Egan (concussion) and five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita (calf) missing from the side that had a shock loss to the Titans last week.
Samuel Healey and Te Maire Martin are the replacements.
Nikorima's partnership with half Isaiya Katoa has been integral in the Dolphins' rise to the top eight after a 0-4 start to the season.
Versatile Jake Averillo has filled in admirably for Nikorima, but switches back to wing.
"With Kodi returned it just puts everyone back in their right positions," Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said.
"We've played our best footy with Kodi at six and him and Isaiya enjoy playing together and have got a really good combination on the field.
"He really strengthens our team and means we can put Jake back in the outside backs where we think he's best as well."
The Dolphins have three big inclusions with veteran props Mark Nicholls (concussion) and Felise Kaufusi (knee) returning from injury as well.
The Warriors have also lost prop James Fisher-Harris (calf) to go with the Egan and Harris-Tavita absences, but Woolf still expects a fierce battle.
"We've had that sort of disruption just about all year and we've played some of our best footy without some of our bigger names, so they're very capable of that as well," he said.
"For us, the last couple of weeks probably were the most challenging when you look at the number of guys that were out from the top 30.
"To be able to get through that period the way we did is a really good sign of where we're headed as a club."
As for the side's maiden finals chances, Woolf said "we've put ourselves in a position where it's at least in our hands.
"If we win enough games at the back end of the year ... we'll play finals," he said.
Australian Associated Press
