LIVE: Recruit's first chance to oust Tigers star

Former Panther Charlie Staines made his debut for the Panthers successful 2020.

He's spent the past 3 seasons astatine the ft of the Blue Mountains, and started connected the helping successful their expansive last triumph past season.

But successful 2023 helium volition embark connected a caller situation - moving distant from the strategy helium knows and has nurtured him, to travel Api Koroisau to a broadside connected the up aft a lowly mates of years.

Staines volition marque his archetypal quality successful Tigers colours successful a proceedings lucifer against the Warriors astatine Mt Smart Stadium.

In 2022, helium played astir of the play connected the wing, but scored lone 3 tries - including the 5th and last successful the Panthers' triumph implicit the Eels successful the decider.

The young Samoan has been named astatine fullback for tonight's clash - a presumption helium volition conflict Daine Laurie for successful the trials heading into circular one.

Staines did get a mates of chances successful the presumption during 2022 - but some of them were losses successful weakened Panthers sides.

It's nary casual task. Laurie, who is not playing successful tonight's proceedings line-up, is retired to impressment and volition beryllium looking to beryllium to Tim Sheens and Tigers bosses wherefore helium should beryllium the antheral to continue successful the No.1 jersey.

"Me and him person been swapping successful and out, I've been doing a small spot astatine five-eighth and he's been doing a spot of wing," Laurie told Fox Sports.

"It's bully to person him there, it keeps maine connected my toes. It's affable contention and it's lone going to marque some of america better."

Staines' chap Panthers enlistee Koroisau is another, alongside Laurie, who volition beryllium retired the lucifer against the Warriors.

Laurie reckons this has been his strongest off-season.

"Especially with 'Stainsey' present and each the boys pushing for positions. I reckon this volition astir apt beryllium 1 of my champion years," helium said.

"I'm feeling precise assured and can't hold to amusement it."