Veteran Awen Guttenbeil and off-season signing George Gatis are set to achieve contrasting personal milestones in the Warriors encounter with Wests Tigers in Christchurch on Saturday night.

For Guttenbeil (30), the match will be the 150th of his 11-year first-grade career while Gatis' will make his first NRL appearance in almost three years on a day that coincides with his 28th birthday (March 25).

A 24-game hooker with North Queensland from 2001-03, he will start in the No 9 jersey at Jade Stadium while Guttenbeil will have Wairangi Koopu back as his starting second-row partner.

The changes mean Micheal Luck reverts to the bench while Lance Hohaia makes way for Gatis' introduction. Travelling to Christchurch as 18th man will be promising utility back Patrick Ah Van, who turned 18 on St Patrick's Day (March 17).

"This is an important match for everyone but it's extra special for both Awen and George," said Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary.

"I had the good fortune to play alongside Awen and have the greatest admiration for him. It's a tribute to his dedication and tenacity that he has reached 150 games after so many setbacks earlier in his career."

Gatis has also overcome major reverses. The last time he played at this level was in July 2003.

He broke his right arm before the 2003 competition started and his comeback lasted only one match when he needed a left knee reconstruction after the Cowboys' match against the Bulldogs in round 20 that season.

The Townsville-born Australian of Greek heritage eventually made his return via Western Suburbs in Sydney's premier league competition in late 2004 and played for Centrals in Townsville last year before being offered a chance to revive his first-grade career with the Warriors.

"George deserves so much credit for the way he has gone about things since coming to Auckland," said Cleary.

"A foot injury meant he was unable to be part of our trials last month but he has been outstanding playing for our elite development side.

"We've talked to Lance about the decision to go with George in this match and he has been terrific about it. George has earned this opportunity and he's excited about it."

Guttenbeil began his first-grade career coming off the bench in the Warriors' 12-8 win over North Sydney in Auckland on April 14, 1996, but it began a period when a string of injuries restricted him to only 34 matches in his first five years as a first grader.

Guttenbeil has had both shoulders reconstructed, an arthroscopy on his left shoulder, two hernias, a right knee reconstruction, three arthroscopes on his right knee, a broken left ankle, reconstruction of that ankle and two broken noses.

In the second half of his career he has been one of the club's most durable players, appearing in 115 of the Warriors' last 131 matches. He's one of only 10 players to appear in 100 matches for the club and just the second after Stacey Jones to clock up 150 appearances.

In the corresponding Wests Tigers-Warriors match in Christchurch last year, the Tigers won 24-6.

Due to New Zealand ending daylight saving last weekend, the match starts at the earlier time of 6.30pm.

The referee is Paul Simpkins.