Warriors coach Tony Kemp has called in 18-year-old Simon Mannering to start in the centres in Sunday's NRL clash against South Sydney at Ericsson Stadium.

Mannering, born in Napier but raised in Nelson, gains his promotion at the expense of Kiwi centre Clinton Toopi who'll be on the interchange bench for his 100th NRL appearance.

"Simon was a stand-out performer throughout the off-season," said Kemp today.

"He was in the centres for the New Zealand President's Selection in our trial at North Harbour Stadium and showed everything we expected of him. He really deserves this chance."

Mannering, a Nelson College product, played rugby union until he was 17 but, on switching codes, immediately made the New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby league side in 2003.

Playing his club league out of Wellington, he not only played for the Junior Kiwis last year but also gained selection in the New Zealand A side. He's equally at home playing in the centres or the back row.

Mannering will be part of an all-new centres pairing with off-season signing Todd Byrne coming infield from the right wing. That allows giant winger Manu Vatuvei to start on the right wing, where he played most of the second half against the Cowboys last Sunday.

"We switched Todd to centre when we brought Manu on in the second half last weekend. I see Todd more as a centre than a winger," said Kemp.

"Manu was really solid for the 35 minutes he was on the field and he has a big career in front of him if he can achieve some consistency."

Byrne's move sees utility Sione Faumuina shift from the centres - where he played against Brisbane and North Queensland - to partner Wairangi Koopu in the second row.

"Sione has worked his way back well from off-season surgery," said Kemp.

"He did well for us in the centres but offers more of a threat playing in the back row."

That change sees veteran Awen Guttenbeil joining Toopi, Tevita Latu and Karl Temata on the bench.

In another change, Brent Webb returns at fullback after missing the Cowboys match with a back injury. This enables Jerome Ropati to move back to standoff - where he was originally selected for the Cowboys encounter - to replace Lance Hohaia.

"Lance is very unlucky. He was solid against the Cowboys. His attitude has been perfect," said Kemp.

Not considered for selection were centre Tony Martin (shoulder injury) and bench forward Louis Anderson who will miss one match after taking an early guilty plea on two grade one charges (dangerous throw and striking) from the North Queensland match.

Warriors: 1. Brent Webb, 2. Francis Meli, 3. Todd Byrne, 4. Simon Mannering, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. Jerome Ropati, 7. Stacey Jones, 8. Iafeta Paleaasina, 9. Nathan Fien, 10. Steve Price (capt), 11. Sione Faumuina, 12. Wairangi Koopu, 13. Monty Betham. Interchange: TeVita Latu, Karl Temata, Clinton Toopi, Awen Guttenbeil.