The Warriors will be out to heed lessons from 12 months ago during the second edition of the Auckland Nines this weekend.

Skipper Shaun Johnson says one of those is ensuring they remain in top shape going into the second and final day on Sunday.

Last year, the Warriors finished pool play with a 100 per cent record, but only just got past South Sydney in the quarter-finals before falling to eventual winners North Queensland in the semis.

Johnson, whose dazzling displays landed him the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award, says there are aspects the Warriors have identified for improvement, although he didn’t want to get into specifics.

“There are a few key areas where I thought we got it wrong and it was telling on that second day,” he said.

“We will be a lot more switched on in those areas and hopefully going into that second day feeling a lot better.”

The Warriors face Gold Coast and Canberra on Saturday and complete their pool programme against the Wests Tigers early on Sunday afternoon.

As was the case 12 months ago, they are the pre-tournament favourites, a situation Johnson finds baffling.

“There’s all this media talk that we are favourites, but us we can’t buy into any of that,” he said.

“I personally can’t understand how you can have a favourite in a competition like this. Any team can go out there and give it a shake.”

While a number of star players are sitting out the event, which is part of a hectic build-up to the new NRL season, Johnson has a simple explanation for why he’s not among them.

“My theory is that if you’re not playing in the Nines, you’re getting flogged in pre-season anyway,” he said.

“I would much rather be playing in front of a packed-out Eden Park with my mates.”