The Warriors are confident halfback Shaun Johnson and winger Manu Vatuvei will be fit to face NRL leaders Melbourne on Wednesday night despite taking cover for the pair.
Pita Godinet and Glen Fisiiahi were added to a 19-man squad that headed across the Tasman on Monday ahead of the Anzac Day fixture at AAMI Park.
Johnson and Vatuvei picked up shoulder and ankle injuries respectively in New Zealand’s defeat to the Kangaroos in Auckland on Friday night.
They, along with another of the Warriors’ Test contingent, club skipper Simon Mannering, sat out training on Sunday, a move coach Brian McClennan described as precautionary.
“Manu and Shaun are pretty optimistic that they will be OK,” he said.
“But we’re covering all bases by taking along Pita and Glen.”
Johnson, who made his Test debut in the 20-12 defeat to the Kangaroos, said his shoulder was “not that bad” and he expected to take the field.
“I’m sweet,” he said.
The starting 13 features the return of fullback Kevin Locke, who has recovered from the leg injury that sidelined him for the Warriors’ past three matches.
He replaces centre Jerome Ropati, who was forced from the field with a hamstring complaint while filling at fullback during the 44-22 victory over South Sydney in the last round.
McClennan said Ropati’s target was to be right for the visit of Brisbane the following week.
Others backing up from representative football are Kiwi prop Ben Matulino and Feleti Mateo, who turned out for City Origin against Country on Sunday in Mudgee.
Warriors: Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Ben Henry, Krisnan Inu, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Sione Lousi, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (capt), Elijah Taylor. Interchange (from): Russell Packer, Ukuma Ta’ai, Lewis Brown, Sam Rapira, Pita Godinet, Glen Fisiiahi.