Kearney confident Warriors have the depth

Stephen Kearney is confident he has the forward depth to cover the loss of Tohu Harris and Bunty Afoa as the Warriors head into the business end of the competition.

The pair have been sidelined for up to six weeks after picking up injuries during last week’s controversial 18-15 defeat to the Sharks in Auckland.

Scans revealed Harris, who limped off in the final few minutes, suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee which requires surgery, while Afoa dislocated his elbow late in the the first half.

It is a significant blow for the Auckland club as it fights to secure a top-four spot with nine games left in the regular season.

Former Melbourne backrower Harris has been one of the Warriors’ best since joining the club in the off-season, forming a lethal right-edge combination with Shaun Johnson, Peta Hiku and David Fusitu’a.

Afoa has been arguably their most improved player in 2018, providing tremendous impact off the the bench as well as starting six games at prop.

Kearney has the luxury of naming veteran Simon Mannering to replace Harris for Friday’s trip to Penrith, while Ligi Sao has been brought into the playing 17 for Afoa.

Sao played the first four games of the season before dropping to reserve grade and Kearney has backed him to step up this week.

‘‘We’ve got Simon who’s pretty experienced, he may push out to an edge and Ligi who started off the year. That’s not an issue,’’ Kearney said.

‘‘Last week we didn’t have the two big guys out on the wings [Fusitu’a and Ken Maumalo] and I thought we managed that fairly well.’’

The absence of Harris and Afoa has been softened somewhat by the return of experienced forward Adam Blair from a twogame suspension, while Fusitu’a (ankle injury) and Maumalo (rested) return on the wings.

That has seen Hiku return to centre, with Gerard Beale named on the bench and Anthony Gelling dropping back to reserve grade.

While Sao has the first chance to replace Afoa, his injury has opened the door for Sam Lisone to get back in the NRL side.

Lisone has not been seen in the first grade since the round 10 loss to the Roosters at Mt Smart as he fell behind Chris Satae for a spot on the bench.

Last week’s result saw the Warriors fall out of the top four but they have the chance to get straight back in with a win over the fourth-placed Panthers.

The home team will be without New South Wales Origin trio James Maloney, Nathan Cleary and Tyrone Peachey.