Warriors Team For Bulldogs Match

Warriors head coach Daniel Anderson on Tuesday named his team to play the Bulldogs at WestpacTrust Stadium this Friday night.

Wairangi Koopu has been named at lock in place of Monty Betham who pleaded guilty to a grade 2 careless high tackle charge from last weekend's 14 - 28 loss to the Penrith Panthers.

Betham will miss two games through suspension. Stacey Jones, who turns 27 next Tuesday, will captain the team.

Motu Tony (shoulder) will be rested for a week. Queensland emerging State of Origin representative Brent Webb will play fullback.

Coach Anderson has made a change at centre, elevating Vinnie Anderson from the interchange bench in place of John Carlaw who will not play.

"A 5-day turnaround from Sunday evening's game, Monty's suspension and injury to Motu means we have a number of challenges to confront this week," said Anderson.

"We will travel to Wellington earlier than we have in the past so we can quickly settle into our game day routine on Friday."

The team will train in Auckland on Thursday before departing for Wellington at 6.00pm that evening.

This is the third meeting between the Warriors and the Bulldogs in Wellington. In 2001 (Round 8) the Warriors snatched a dramatic 24-24 draw in the final seconds and in 2002 (Round 5) the Bulldogs held out a late Warriors charge to win 28 - 20.

The two sides have already met this year with the Warriors coming out victors 24-20 at Ericsson Stadium (Round 2). In 2002 the Warriors won the Ericsson Stadium clash 22-14 (Round 22).

The Vodafone Warriors squad to play the Bulldogs this Friday at Wellington is:

1. Brent Webb

2. Henry Fa'afili

3. Vinnie Anderson

4. Clinton Toopi

5. Francis Meli

6. Lance Hohaia

7. Stacey Jones (Captain)

8. Jerry Seuseu

9. PJ Marsh

10. Mark Tookey

11. Logan Swann

12. Awen Guttenbeil

13. Wairangi Koopu

Interchange:

14. Justin Murphy

15. Evarn Tuimavave

16. Sione Faumuina

20. Iafeta Palea'aesina