Warriors greats Simon Mannering and Shaun Johnson want their teammates to retain faith in what has worked this year when they hit the road for the NRL finals.
Penrith, St George Illawarra or Brisbane await the Warriors on Australian soil next week, depending on the Broncos’ result against Manly on Sunday.
Having beaten all three of those teams in the last seven weeks, the Warriors will be relaxed.
The Kiwi club’s most prolific player Mannering and leading pointscorer Johnson hope it stays that way throughout the build-up.
The only members of the current squad who took part in their most recent play-off match – the 2011 grand final loss to Manly – they have had a taste of what is required in the post-season.
Despite the increase in intensity, Mannering doesn’t want the Warriors to change the methods that have shaped a vastly-improved 2018 season.
“The final are different but for us, you don’t want to see that as a daunting thing,” Mannering said.
“In the finals you embrace what’s coming. The crowd’s there, the noise, the intensity, the speed. It’s about sticking to what you’ve been doing all year but just doing it better.”
First and foremost, the 32-year-old hopes to play a part, having been forced off midway through the Warriors’ 20-16 win over a Canberra.
Mannering will have a light week to protect a sternum injury which dampened his 300th NRL appearance.
Johnson, whose two late penalty goals sunk Canberra, says the Warriors took plenty out of a patchy win.
“By no means are we kidding ourselves by saying it was a complete performance.
“We ended up holding on, which we may need to do in this run,” Johnson said.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to find a way. Ultimately I’m just glad to get over the line on what was such a special night.”
Johnson can expect to have influential halves partner Blake Green back from a calf problem.
However, halfback Johnson praised the contribution of five-eighth Mason Lino, who is fit and available if Green’s absence continues,