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Glen Fisiiahi scores a try -
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Warriors winger Glen Fisiiahi knows he has to prove himself once more when he makes his ninth NRL appearance against the Eels in their season-opening clash at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night.
A head-knock to Bill Tupou in their last trial match against the Broncos saw Fisiiahi given his chance on the right flank and he took it with both hands with an eye-catching display off the bench.
Fisiiahi did well to shore up his side of the park while also showcasing his ability from broken play when he scored an opportunist try to help the Warriors on their way to breaking their pre-season duck.
"Yeah I was (surprised) but I went over the footage from the trials and I thought I played particularly well," Fisiiahi told ONE Sport of his inclusion in this week's starting 13.
"It feels great to be back in the team but I've just got to perform well this week and we'll see how I go after that.
"It's mine for the time but I've got to perform well this week and make it mine."
After debuting under Ivan Cleary's tutelage in the first round of 2011, injuries and mixed form saw the man they call 'Fish' restricted to just eight NRL appearances since, with Warriors fans seeing only rare glimpses of the lightening pace and freakish try-scoring ability that marked so many of his NSW Cup performances for the Auckland Vulcans.
Matthew Elliott's arrival at the club marked the third coach in as many seasons, and after lingering on the fringes of the first grade squad for much of 2012, Fisiiahi was buoyed by the changes undertaken at Mt Smart following Brian McClennan's departure.
"Before the off-season there was a lot of talk of big changes and to be honest I was quite excited," he explained.
"What Matty and his coaching staff have brought to the club has been terrific and all the players are loving it."
And in a self-assessment that will concern any staggered defensive line, a brutal Summer's training under the unforgiving gaze of Warriors legend Ruban Wiki has Fisiiahi starting the 2013 season feeling sharper than ever.
"I feel lighter but I feel faster and that's a good thing because speed is one of my major contributions to the team.
"It was tough (the pre-season), one of the toughest I've ever done. Rube's got us doing CrossFit and, man...I wasn't really a CrossFit fan after that."
Of Saturday's preparations, Fisiiahi lists communication out wide as one of his key roles in helping the Warriors backline defend against one of the NRL's biggest attacking weapons.
"Just being able to identify one of their key players in Jarryd Hayne and it's our wingers job to talk to the guys inside him and let them know where he is because he's a big threat in their team."
"They'll be coming out firing as they do and they get their big boys (running) head on and I guess we'll see what happens on Saturday."
Keep up with all the action from the Warriors round one NRL clash against the Eels on Saturday with our live updates here at onenews.co.nz from 7.30pm.