It's official - Shaun Johnson is back.
The Warriors' talismanic halfback has been confirmed to start in his side's sudden death NRL finals clash against Newcastle Knights on Saturday.
After missing last weekend's finals opener against Penrith Panthers due to a torn calf, Johnson has trained separately to the rest of the squad this week in an attempt to recover in time for the blockbuster at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart.
He was named in the starting side on Tuesday, but the Warriors insisted on delaying any confirmation of his availability until late on match day.
On Friday, Warriors chief executive Cam George told Newshub Johnson had got through Friday's all-important captain's run without incident, putting him on track to play.
His return means Dylan Walker will move back to his typical role as a utility off the bench.
The Dally M medallist will be a huge boost to the Warriors' fortune, after they sorley missed his generalship in the one-sided defeat to the minor premiers in western Sydney.
The winner of Saturday's match will advance to face Brisbane Broncos in the preliminary final next weekend, while the losers' season will come to an end.
NZ Warriors: 1-Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2-Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3-Rocco Berry, 4-Adam Pompey, 5-Marcelo Montoya, 6-Te Maire Martin, 7-Shaun Johnson, 8-Addin Fonua-Blake, 9-Wayde Egan, 10-Mitchell Barnett, 11-Jackson Ford, 12-Marata Niukore, 13-Tohu Harris (captain)
Interchange: 14-Dylan Walker, 15-Jazz Tevaga, 16-Bayley Sironen, 17-Josh Curran, 18-Freddy Lussick, 20-Taine Tuaupiki
Join Newshub at 6pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors v Knights NRL playoff
