Vatuvei, who has spent the past six weeks on the sidelines with a leg injury, was named in the Warriors' starting 13 yesterday, but later failed a fitness test.
Coach Ivan Cleary said today that Vatuvei probably could have turned out against the Rabbitohs, but it was thought best not to risk him and instead aim for a return next week.
"He's just not quite right," he said.
"He's been out for this long so I think it's prudent that, when he comes back, we've got no doubts at all."
Cleary said a decision on a replacement had not yet been made.
Vatuvei scored seven tries in the first seven matches of the season but suffered what turned out to be a spiral fracture of his left fibula against Gold Coast in late April.
The injury made him unavailable for the transtasman centenary test match in Sydney last month.
