Warriorsvs Bulldogs games of recent memory haven't been the most entertaining fixtures, don't expect too much variance from that with damp conditions set for tomorrow night's game in Auckland. We'll know a lot more about the respective line-ups later today as those big ol' benches get sorted soon after I right this and both teams have plenty of wiggle room with Kieran Foran a possibility along with James Gavet and Manu Vatuvei, the latter two named outside the 17.

The Doggies have their Origin players backing up and it's not just case of backing up for Brett Morris, Josh Jackson and David Klemmer; they've got to cross the ditch and then back up within 48 hours of game two. Klemmer is the key bloke of that group and his presence through the middle could decide the game, especially if conditions aren't exactly conducive to the Bulldogs' slicks passing game. If it's wet and both teams opt to simplify their work, this Bulldogs forward pack with Klemmer in it will be tough to dominate.

Either way, the Warriors are in the driver's seat for this game. Being at Mt Smart helps and whether Foran plays or not shouldn't dictate how this game pans how because we've got Ata Hingano's development to enjoy. After the win over Gold Coast, I highlighted the similarities in Hingano's game to that of Foran and funnily enough after offering my analysis, a certain mainstream media outlet followed that narrative, just without the analysis.

With the greatest league player in our game today 💯 @jthurston06 Photo cred: @koni_hurrell 📷

245 Likes, 4 Comments - Ata Hingano (@atahingano) on Instagram: "With the greatest league player in our game today 💯 @jthurston06 Photo cred: @koni_hurrell 📷"

That applies to this game if Hingano has to stand in for Foran because that role isn't overly complicated for Hingano and blends nicely with what he's done throughout his career thus far. Hingano has come up through the Warriors system playing on the left edge and with a left-footed kicking game, he's perhaps better suited to that left edge than Foran is. Hingano isn't being asked to step in and lead the team, he's just got to control the left edge and make decisions like when to pick out Shaun Johnson or Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, or when to scamper down a short-side.

Hingano already has the physicality in his defence, a range of kicks and passes along with a desire to run. The decision-making is what he's got to develop and that comes with more game time in the NRL, at NRL-tempo where there is greater pressure and less time to make those decisions.

With Foran in doubt, Hingano, Johnson and Tuivasa-Sheck would have been spend a fair amount of time on the training pitch sussing out how this combination is going to produce the best results moving forward. Keep in mind that the Warriors would have had some time off as they had a bye last week, which probably allowed Foran some time to head back to Sydney and you'd hope that Johnson, Hingano and Tuivasa-Sheck would have taken some time off as well as training.

During that time though, attack coach Steve McNamara was released to take up a head coach job with Catalans in the Super League. This has resulted in Stacey Jones getting the promotion and although McNamara had formed a nice partnership with Tuivasa-Sheck going back to when they were at the Roosters, I'm very intrigued by any possible changes to the attacking structure or style that Jones could make.

We'll have to wait for that and while I don't think there will be any major changes, it'll be fun to explore that on Monday morning. This does however give the Warriors a Stephen Kearney/Stacey Jones coaching combination and they compliment each other beautifully, covering areas of weakness of the other to perfection. I've already seen Kearney's influence in how this team defends (edges rush, kick-chase is great, big efforts to cover inside shoulders), so now it's time to see how Jones can influence this team.

And mid-season as well. That's a rather big change to make mid-season, yet I like it as Kearney started the season trying to establish a basic plan and start to change habits (which takes time). Now Jones comes in with an opportunity to sprinkle his magic over this team and for the Warriors to settle themselves in the top-eight, that sprinkling of Jones magic needs to be evident.

I'm low key hoping Foran doesn't play because Jones has coached Hingano in the Under 20s and reserve grade. If there's any coach who has moulded Hingano's style of play, it's Jones and we could see a glimpse of that tomorrow night.

Then we've got Manu Vatuvei lurking on that extended bench. If Gavet is healthy, I expect him to play but for Vatuvei it's not a case of him being fit and ready to go, this is more about where Vatuvei fits into the Warriors moving forward. Ken Maumalo has established himself in doing what Vatuvei built his career around, while I've got David Fusitua as a better winger than both of them.

This week though, due to unfortunate circumstances the toko Solomone Kata is out and Fusitua moves to centre with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad starting on the wing. Nicoll-Klokstad offers a bit more speed and footwork than the others, the oomph offered by Vatuvei and Maumalo is hard to resist though.

With many wing options, there doesn't appear to be much room for Vatuvei. Kearney likes his veterans though and he knows exactly what he'll get from Vatuvei, so it'll be interesting to see how this pans out now Vatuvei is back in the mix.

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