Warriors coach Stephen Kearney wants to make an early decision on the status of key playmaker Blake Green, who looks set to sit out their NRL home match against North Queensland.

Veteran halfback Green skipped Tuesday’s training session because of the groin injury sustained during last Saturday’s 28-24 loss to South Sydney on the Sunshine Coast.

Rookie five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita took the chief playmaking duties in just his second appearance, while regular centre Peta Hiku joined him in the halves.

Harris-Tavita handled the late switch well until the final quarter, when errors crept into his game as the Warriors conceded three late tries to squander a 12-point lead.

Kearney said the 20-year-old will have learned plenty from the experience and had faith in Harris-Tavita and Hiku starting in the same roles against the Cowboys on Saturday, if Green can’t recover.

“We’ll make that decision when we know about Greeny but I thought it (Harris-Tavita and Hiku combination) looked OK at the weekend,” Kearney said.

“The guy who comes in for Greeny needs to be given every opportunity to prepare as best he can this week.

“I thought Chanel did well under the circumstance. I thought it was good lesson for his development.”

Centre Solomone Kata is in doubt with a corked thigh.

Patrick Herbert ran in his place at training and is a chance to make his first grade debut.

There is better news surrounding hooker Nathaniel Roache, who has been sidelined with a calf injury since starting in round one.

Roache took a full part in training and Kearney said he is on track to return when the 10th-placed Warriors face the second-from-bottom Cowboys.