Siliva Havili will captain the competition-leading Vodafone Junior Warriors while Omar Slaimankhel will start at standoff in today's 21st-round NYC clash against Manly at Brookvale Oval in Sydney (3.00pm kick-off NZ time).
Carlos Tuimavave was originally named to lead the side with regular captain John Palavi being rested but Tuimavave is out after being called into the Vodafone Warriors' travelling squad for their NRL match against Manly in Perth last night.
In his absence Havili becomes captain while Slaimankhel, originally named on the wing, has been listed to start in the halves with Mason Lino. His shift results in big Toka Likiliki coming off the bench for yet another start on the wing.
In another change to the starting line-up Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard will start in the second row with Siulongoua Fotofili on the bench alongside fellow front rowers Albert Vete and James Taylor and livewire hooker Trent Bishop. Apart from Tuimavave the other players initially named but ultimately omitted are 18th man Sione Feao and Eko Malu.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors will finish the 21st round in outright first place if they win, leaving them well-placed to claim the minor premiership for the second successive season. Victory today would lift them to 33 points, two clear of Penrith which lost 24-30 to Cronulla last night.
John Ackland's side is aiming for its sixth straight win following successes against Cronulla, North Queensland, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Newcastle since a tight loss to Penrith last month.
Palavi's absence means prop Ligi Sao will remain the only player in the squad to have appeared in every match when he lines up for the 19th time. Slaimankhel is back in the NYC after five NRL appearances for the Vodafone Warriors.
Lino needs only six more points to bring up 100 points in his rookie season.
