Right off the bat, this game doesn't smell good. The Warriors have been showing signs that they are far too similar to the 2015 Warriors for our liking. I guess the Warriors are a bit like Jon Snow from Game of Thrones in that they definitely appear dead, knee deep in rigamortis, yet there's the slight chance of resurrection that we are holding on to.

If I am to roll with the GoT metaphors, St George are dragons, lol. The Dragons resemble Sansa Stark as they have endured a lull, a lack of form which ensured that not much went right for them. Now though, the Dragons have strung together a few wins and things are looking to be on the up, just like Sansa who now has her own little army.

Each game so far this season has given us the opportunity to measure our Warriors up against a team who offers a slightly different challenge to the previous week's opposition. The Dragons certainly aren't Melbourne right now, but they are very solid and will take a lot of work to get on top of. They have halves who keep it simple and effective, a backline who rarely put a footy wrong and a forward pack who tick the skillful, tough, mobile, aggressive boxes ... and they are coming off a heated game against the Roosters' forwards.

This certainly won't be an easy task for the Warriors, the Dragons will however present the Warriors with an opportunity to bounce back with a sublime display. That's what I'm most concerned about here because the Dragons are there to be smoked by an eager/enthusiastic Warriors team who can't wait to rectify their current predicament. Whether the Warriors show up eager and enthusiastic, well that's the tricky bit.

Looking at this team that Andrew McFadden's named, you get smacked in the fact by the youngsters who have been promoted. Charlie Gubb takes Simon Mannering spot at lock while Jazz Tevaga, Albert Vete and Shaun Lane come on to the bench with James Gavet lurking as 18th-man.  What are two things that Gubb, Tevaga, Vete and Sam Lisone have in common? They are eager and enthusiastic, I can only assume that Lane will be eager and enthusiastic to make his mark in his first Warriors game as well.

That should fill me with confidence, however a staple of McFadden's coaching has been his odd use of minutes. While we would love to see Tevaga, Lisone, Vete and Lane all play at least 25 minutes, it's highly probable that McFadden will play Jacob Lillyman, Issac Luke and Ben Matulino for more minutes. McFadden has consistently played guys like Lisone and Vete - who blatantly run the ball harder than anyone else - for 20 minutes or less and it sucks.

How Lane is used will be interesting as he made his debut on the edge for the Bulldogs and he was swapped with Raymond Faitala-Mariner who had made his debut on the edge for the Warriors. When Lane arrived though, the noise out of Mt Smart pointed to lane playing through the middle and he's on the bench with Bodene Thompson and Ryan Hoffman starting, who both play 80 minutes. I think we'll see Lane used through the middle, although I'd love to see him out on the edge.

I've got no dramas with Lane playing on the edge and Thompson or Hoffman playing less minutes. What's been clear this season and throughout the Warriors' struggles is that their current crop of veterans haven't helped them win and I'd suggest that while it's natural to blame younger players, perhaps we need to take a much closer look at the veterans. 

I say that in general terms, regarding all the veterans in this group. 

Lane specifically, offers something different with his size and mobility. I'd like to see him on the edge with Lisone and Vete rotating through the middle, I reckon we'll see Lane through the middle though.

The use of the young hitmen and Tevaga will provide greater insight into McFadden's ruthlessness as an NRL coach. Right now, I reckon McFadden is scared of making any dramatic moves with his more experienced players and if we see limited use out of Tevaga, or if we see Tevaga play alongside Luke then you could argue that McFadden doesn't quite have the kahunas to cut Luke. 

To be honest, I couldn't care less about the Warriors backline in this game. The Dragons have started winning again because their forward pack has been physical and aggressive, dominating their opponents and it's going to be a long Sunday arvo for the Warriors if their big boys can't do the job.

That forward pack is where we see youth and experience being juggled. There's youngsters who have a point to prove and there's veterans who simply need to play better, that should result in a ruthless display right? Well, yeah, maybe.