Late Changes: vs New Zealand Warriors

There is just the one change to the starting side which was announced on Tuesday. Alex Seyfarth comes into the run-on side with Aitasi James moving to the interchange bench.

This will be Seyfarth's first match since rupturing his pectoral muscle in last season's Round 23 loss to the Roosters at the SCG.

Also returning from a long injury layoff is centre Tommy Talau who missed all of last season after suffering an ACL injury.

Talua says he's eager get back to playing after 12-months of rehab.

"I can't wait to play again," he said.

"It's been a long road but I feel ready and everything feels good."

Prop-forward Stefano Utoikamanu has been handed the captaincy and won the toss in his first time in the role.

The season's first hit-out will include a mix of players from the NRL top-30 squad, as well as development players, and some of the brightest prospects from our pathways' teams.

Brandon Wakeham will direct play at halfback in his first appearance for the club, with fellow new recruit Charlie Staines named at fullback.

Team list: 

The Rules:

Games will be played over 80 minutes as normal, but with clubs able to field as many as 28 players in week-one matches and up to 26 in week-two matches, with unlimited interchanges at their disposal in both weeks. 

The NRL Bunker will be in use in all matches, while games which are tied at the end of regular time will be declared a draw, with no golden point to be played. 

The Points:

The addition of bonus points to go alongside points earned by winning or drawing a match will ensure teams have something to play for in every contest, no matter what's happening on the scoreboard. 

Alongside points accumulated through results, the number of bonus points a team can snare each game could make all the difference on what is sure to be a congested ladder. 

The club with the most points at the conclusion of the two rounds will be declared the winner of the Pre-Season Challenge and claim the $100,000 in prize money.