Canberra's second-row depth has suffered a major blow with emerging star Matty Nicholson ruled out for up to five months with a shoulder injury.
After sustaining a subluxation in pre-season trials, the 22-year-old reinjured his shoulder in NSW Cup action last Saturday and on Thursday, the Raiders confirmed he would require surgery.
It comes after coach Ricky Stuart urged Canberra to turn the dial up as they'll miss veteran enforcer Josh Papali'i due to concussion against the Warriors in Auckland.
The most-capped Raider will leave a big hole for the visitors, who face the boisterous atmosphere that the Sydney Roosters struggled to overcome in their 42-18 loss to a dominant Warriors a week ago.
Stuart has selected England international Morgan Smithies to replace him, while Nicholson was already ruled out of Friday's clash with 20-year-old Noah Martin and Hudson Young the starting second-rowers.
"It's a good challenge for them (the team) to show some seniority," Stuart said.
"I've got that in Corey (Horsburgh) and Joe (Tapine), Hardo (Hudson Young), Tom (Starling), and Morgan (Smithies).
"It's their job to just turn the dial up in regard to looking after the loss of Papa."
One senior player the Warriors are focusing their attention on is Tapine after the Kiwi terrorised their middle pack last May.
The Canberra captain also showed he wasn't afraid to rile up the Auckland faithful, demonstrating a crybaby gesture to the crowd after conceding a crusher tackle.
"He (Tapine) will be massive. He's a big part of their team," said Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, ahead of his 150th game for the Kiwi club.
"We've got to match the contact first, he likes to bring the niggles. That gets on top of players."
The Warriors still won't have their star halfback Luke Metcalf, after undergoing surgery for a ruptured ACL last year, but coach Andrew Webster says he is fully training with the team and expected to return earlier than thought.
Speculation has also plagued the Warriors camp after Melbourne winger Will Warbrick was linked to a multi-year deal with the club, as his contract expires at the end of this season.
Webster wouldn't be drawn into the rumours, but Warbrick's potential teammate Chanel Harris-Tavita said he would be a big addition if he put pen to paper.
"Any player that gets to play for Melbourne is always going to be a classy player," Harris-Tavita said.
"He's an aerial threat, and he can finish tries ... Whatever team Will Warbrick is in, is going to be better for it."
