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Jacob Lillyman - Source: Photosport -
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Warrior Sam Rapira is relishing the prospect of a head-to-head clash with one of the NRL form props on Saturday night.
The Warriors are away to Parramatta, for whom Fuifui Moimoi has been in destructive mood.
Man of the match in the 40-8 win over Newcastle last weekend, Moimoi has been an influential figure, along with fullback Jarryd Hayne, in the Eels' resurgence over the past month.
"Personally, I can't wait," Rapira said of the match-up with his fellow Kiwis international.
"It's going a good test. He's a key guy we need to stop but, in saying that, he needs to stop us too."
However, Rapira also accepted the Warriors' forwards had to provide a vastly improved start to what they managed in their 10-30 loss to the Gold Coast last weekend.
The Titans, helped by repeat sets from astute kicking and by penalties, dominated the opening quarter in possession and territory, and built an ultimately decisive 14-0 lead.
"The first 20 wasn't good," Rapira said.
"The start of every game sets the trend and we set it bad."
Rapira said the bench of Evarn Tuimavave, Jacob Lillyman, Ukuma Ta'ai and Ian Henderson did a good job in helping the Warriors mount a comeback and get to within four points.
"They picked it up and got the boys going forward and that allowed the backs to do a bit with the ball," he said.
"But the start was nowhere near good enough. We realise that and we've been working hard at training to get that right, but it's got to improve out of sight this weekend."
The Warriors and Parramatta met in the opening round in Auckland in Auckland, with the home side winning 26-18.
For most of the four months after that, both clubs struggled for consistency.
However, with an unbroken streak of four successive wins, Parramatta have charged up the table to within one point of the top eight.
The Warriors have not been able to produce a similar change in fortunes.
With just one win in their past seven matches, they have accepted that playoffs football is beyond them.
Heading into their trip to Parramatta Stadium, they languish third from bottom, just four points above cellar dwellers the Sydney Roosters with four rounds to go.
But Rapira said there was still plenty to play for.
"We know we can't make the playoffs, but personally and as a team, we want to win," he said.
"The last couple of weeks we haven't performed like we want to and we want to show our fans and our families how proud we are playing for the Warriors."
While he had plenty of respect for the Eels, he also believed the Warriors had the goods to cause an upset.
"They've got good go-forward and have good backs like Jarryd Hayne and Krisnan Inu," he said.
"From one to 17 they are going to be a tough squad and we have to combat them from every angle -- forwards, backs, attack, defence. If we can do that, I can't see why we can't win."
