After wins over the Knights and Roosters, this is the start of what we've been waiting for folks. Saturday night against the Sharks, at Shark Park isn't the sole big game that we as Warriors fans need to gauge the potential of our team, this is just the start of long home straight towards the finals.

There's a decent chunk of the NRL season left, plenty of time for losses to be made up for and plenty of time for good performances to fade as distant memories. From this point though, results and performances taken on a greater meaning, there's more on the line and with two games against both the Knights and Roosters in the past now, there won't be many games that the Warriors are expected to win.

And that's where we love to be right? Saturday night, Shark Park, up against an impressive Sharks side who have combined their usual gritty nature with flair - no one is really expecting the Warriors to win this one.

The Sharks are good yeah, although I still don't think they are quite at the same level as the Broncos and Cowboys, who have dropped points through the Origin period. Regardless of my opinion, Cronulla are soaring, so how do our Warriors go about raiding Shark Park?

Power, skill and unpredictability.

That's the Warriors' recipe for general success and while it might vary depending on different match ups, it's perfect to provide a stern challenge to the Sharks. The power will come through the middle and there needs to be a clear intent to cause damage from Jacob Lillyman, Albert Vete, Sam Lisone, Ben Matulino and Charlie Gubb. Lillyman is coming off a solid Origin display and if he plays (expect him to), he will bring that Origin level of play to the Warriors. What really has me excited though is the impact off the bench with Lisone, Matulino and Gubb up against Chris Heighnington, Matt Prior and Jayson Bukuya.

Cronulla have a solid trio or job-doers coming off their bench which has worked well for them, yet I've got visions of Lisone charging, Matulino putting on some footwork and an offload and Gubb oozing determination. That will all go down after the 20 minute mark.

Warriors Diary is brought to you by CocoSina Coconut Oil. Made in Samoa and supporting local farmers.

The power of the Warriors through the middle from their forwards is an asset because they have the players who relish the opportunities provided by that steamrollin' style. Issac Luke will be up against Michael Ennis and Luke is loving life in the middle at the moment while David Fusitua, Solomone Kata and Ken Maumalo are three extra forwards ... with far better footwork and speed. Even Blake Ayshford is built like a forward and if these outside backs can work in conjunction with the roll provided by the forwards, or provide a wave of momentum starting the set for their forwards, Cronulla will be scrambling.

Skill and unpredictability, it's the simple desire to attack, to have fun in attack. The Warriors won't win this in a grind like they did against the Roosters as Cronulla love that and the Roosters definitely don't. Our Warriors need to fire shots and plenty of them - get the footy in Shaun Johnson and Tuimoala Lolohea's hands and let them play what they see in front of them.

Cronulla aren't easily broken down in defence, they'll slow the Warriors down and cover each other's backsides until the 80th minute. This is why the Warriors need to create more 'backyard footy' situations. Not every tackle but at least once in a good-ball set down Cronulla's end, the Warriors need to get an offload or just play off of their instincts. Otherwise Cronulla will eat up the Warriors rather poor attacking set-moves.

Johnson's niggly leg injury could be influential as it could limit his running game and that's a worst-case scenario. Johnson hasn't shown that he can't be a key player by sitting in the pocket and pulling the strings; his running game is his meat and vege that either has him breaking tackles or causing defenders to over-commit which opens opportunities for others.

Last week Johnson put on a nice try by running the footy, so it appears as though there's no dramas there. Thomas Leuluai's presence should free up Johnson to chance his arm more often and if Leuluai plays as the fulcrum - a solid centre point of the Warriors' attack - then the Warriors have Johnson and Lolohea who can flip nothing into something.

Get Johnson and Lolohea plenty of footy.

Matulino and Simon Mannering to lead the offloading charge.

Luke to scoot.

Power through the middle with impact off the bench and big outside backs.

I'm excited. Cronulla provide a stiff test for this Warriors side and for all the moaning, our Warriors head into this game with a settled line up, settled combinations and a blueprint. I'm not expecting a win, however there's hope and at the very least, I just want to see how the lads respond to this challenge.