The New Zealand Warriors want not only a win in Auckland on Sunday to consolidate their position in the National Rugby League's (NRL) top eight, but also to come away from the match against South Sydney unscathed.
The Warriors welcome back second rower and skipper Simon Mannering after seven weeks out with a hamstring strain, but are again without strike weapon Manu Vatuvei because of a leg problem.
Vatuvei's disrupted season continued when the big winger came off during the 24-12 win over North Queensland last weekend to become the club's latest casualty.
Assistant coach Tony Iro targeted attack as probably the area the Warriors needed to improve most as they prepared for the Rabbitohs.
"It's been hard to get some really good pattern of play," he said.
But Iro put part of that down to the injury toll, which has seen other frontline players, such as prop Steve Price and halfback Brett Seymour, on the sidelines.
"This week, we welcome Simon back, so that's another change on our edge (out wide)," he said.
"It would be nice to get through a game without an injury. We've basically picked up a major one in almost every single game, which has changed our selection for the following week.
"If we can get through this week, touch wood, I think we'll see the benefits of that."
Iro said Seymour's return last week after he broke a thumb in round one had boosted the team in the build-up.
During the match itself, Seymour provided direction for the forwards and also allowed James Maloney, who moved back to five-eighth, to play a wider role.
"The thing about Brett is that, although he hasn't played a lot of football in the last couple of years, he's already got a hundred NRL games under his belt," he said.
"Our confidence lifted amongst our forwards when they saw him named on the team sheet."
South Sydney enter the match with their confidence sky high after a 50-10 pasting of Wests Tigers last weekend, a result that kept them fifth on the table.
They will be without prop and skipper Roy Asotasi, with a shoulder injury, and giant forward David Taylor, who is on Queensland State of Origin duty.
But Iro pointed to plenty of dangers that remained, including the ability of halves Chris Sandow and John Sutton to control proceedings, and the speed out wide of Nathan Merritt and Fetuli Talanoa.
He also believed centre Beau Champion was unlucky to miss out on selection for New South Wales.
"They're going to miss Roy Asotasi and big Dave Taylor -- we're not sad to see him playing for Queensland," he said.
"But they have plenty of players in form and we are going to have to be on our game."
The Warriors lead South Sydney 14-6 in head-to-head wins, but the Rabbitohs have recent history on their side.
They have come out on top in the past three encounters between the sides, and also in the past two at Mt Smart Stadium.
The match will mark a personal milestone for home fullback Lance Hohaia, who will rack up 150 first-grade appearances, all for the Warriors, for whom he made his debut in 2002.
The 22-test Kiwi is the longest serving player on the club's present roster, and also its most versatile, having operated in every backline position bar centre, and also at hooker.