Luke Metcalf and Te Maire Martin in action for NZ Warriors Photo: Photosport
Luke Metcalf and Te Maire Martin will have first crack at forming a halves combination for NZ Warriors, named in the spine for the club's first NRL pre-season hitout against Cronulla Sharks on Friday.
With the departure of club stalwart Shaun Johnson, the scramble is on for the No.7 jersey in particular, with Metcalf claiming that position and Martin outside him.
The pair played alongside Johnson on several occasions last season, but never played with each other.
Coach Andrew Webster has tried to name as close to his top combination as possible, but admits the halves selected themselves, with the squad's two other options - Chanel Harris-Tavita and newcomer Tannah Boyd - picking up training niggles that will keep them sidelined this week.
The other notable selection - as signalled by winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak during the team's Tuesday media session - sees crosscode star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck shifted to the wing, after spending last season trying to master the centre position.
Webster has not designated a captain in this initial team, after incumbent Tohu Harris stood down last month through injury.
New arrivals James Fisher-Harris and Erin Clark are both in the starting pack, with the former replacing departed Addin Fonua-Blake in the front row and the latter taking Harris' spot at lock.
James Fisher-Harris at Warriors training Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Other notable selections see Jacob Laban starting in the second row and Ali Leiataua replacing Tuivasa-Sheck in the centres. Perhaps the most notable absence is centre Rocco Berry, who started last season as first choice, but saw his chances curtailed by injury.
Webster has also named an extended bench of 15 players, with the obvious intention of giving some of his lesser known players a taste of the top team. Among the interchange are regular frontliners Marata Niukore and Dylan Walker, familiar reserves Ed Kosi, Taine Tuaupiki and Freddy Lussick, and teenager Jett Cleary - son of Penrith Panthers coach Ivan and younger brother of star half Nathan.
The full playing squad to face the Sharks at 9pm NZ, Friday at Sharks Stadium, Sydney is:
1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Ali Leistaua, 4 Adam Pompey, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Te Maire Martin, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Mitch Barnett, 11 Jacob Laban, 12 Kurt Capewell, 13 Erin Clark
Interchange: 14 Demitric Vaimauga, 15 Marata Niukore, 16 Moala Graham-Taufa, 17 Sio Kali, 18 Ed Kosi, 20 Luke Hanson, 21 Jett Cleary, 22 Taine Tuaupiki, 23 Daeon Amituanai, 24 Bunty Afoa, 25 Eddie Ieremia-Toeva, 26 Sam Healey, 27 Dylan Walker, 28 Tanner Stowers-Smith, 29 Freddy Lussick
