The Dolphins will look to continue their fairytale debut season when they travel across the ditch to take on a Warriors side smarting from a loss to the Broncos in Napier.
Much of the focus was on Adam Pompey's brain fade at the end of the match that denied his team a late shot at victory, but the damage had been done much earlier for the Warriors as they let the undermanned Broncos get out to a 26-10 lead before finally clicking into gear.
The Warriors retain a spot in the top eight on for and against but losses in four of their past five games have stalled their momentum and threatened to undo the good work done in the opening six weeks.
The Dolphins overcame the absence of Felise Kaufusi, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Tom Gilbert to knock off the Dragons and now sit sixth on the ladder with a 7-5 record - a remarkable achievement in their first season in the big time.
With matches against the Warriors, Sea Eagles and Eels to come before a blockbuster rematch with the Broncos in Round 18, Wayne Bennett's men are ideally placed to emulate the deeds of Melbourne in 1998 and St George Illawarra in 1999 by playing finals in their inaugural season.
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Team News
Warriors: No further changes on game day after Tom Ale came in on Friday for Dylan Walker, who has succumbed to a toe injury he picked up in training last week. Wayde Egan (calf) will start at hooker after missing Round 13 with a calf injury. He is a straight swap for Freddy Lussick who failed a HIA last week and won’t play. Mitch Barnett (neck) is also set to start on Andrew Webster's bench after missing over two months with injury.
Dolphins: A late change on game day with hooker Jeremy Marshall-King dropping out with a shoulder injury. Ray Stone moves to hooker and Jarrod Wallace comes into the starting side at lock. Debutant Max Plath is the new face on the bench. Origin stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (rested) and Tom Gilbert (shoulder) are out. Kodi Nikorima will start the game at fullback in Hammer's absence.
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Stat Attack
- The Warriors have won three from five in New Zealand this season.
- The Dolphins play outside Australia for the first time.
- The Warriors have achieved their best defensive performance after 13 rounds since 2018.
- Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako has scored 30 of his team’s 42 points in their past two games.
- Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored five tries in his past five games.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the