Warriors workhorse Simon Mannering is yet to captain his club after taking over the reins from Steve Price for this year's National Rugby League season.
Mannering, and his injured hamstring, has been a spectator as his side plucked the Roosters 26-8 in Rotorua and gunned down the North Queensland Cowboys 28-6 in Cairns, minus captain Johnathan Thurston, to build impressive form heading into their final trial match against the Manly Sea Eagles at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old, who is fresh from a refereeing coaching clinic aimed at helping him develop edict with the whistle blowers, was happy with the way his side was coming together in his absence.
"Everyone is pushing for places," he said.
"As a squad we have been getting better each week. We are trying to get combinations sorted and make sure everyone's on the same page by round one.
"We have three new Australian guys (prop Jeremy Latimore, 23, halfbacks Brett Seymour, 25, and 22-year-old former Melbourne Storm player James Maloney) and a couple of younger guys going really well, but it's still trials so hopefully we can get a bit out of this last game and go into the season looking good."
However, the tireless second-rower warned not to get carried away with lofty expectations.
"The pre-season doesn't mean too much," Mannering said, adding they were in the same position last year.
"Then started the regular season well and ended it badly.
"Our form does give the team confidence, but you don't get any points for it."
Price, Brent Tate – returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury - Manu Vatuvei, Wade McKinnon and Ian Henderson also missed the pre-season matches.
"We would have liked to have one more pre-season game, which I would have played in, but I will be there for round one," Mannering said.