New Zealand Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has dumped halfback Grant Rovelli after 28 successive games in the No.7 jumper as he searches for an answer to his side's misfiring attack.

Rovelli has been named 18th man for the Warriors home clash with Manly on Sunday, with former Sea Eagles Michael Witt returning from a hip injury at five-eighth and hooker Nathan Fien to play halfback.

Successive losses have forced Cleary to make the scrumbase changes, the coach desperate to spark his side's attack after they failed to capitalise on a dominant first half over Cronulla last week and surrendered to South Sydney a fortnight ago.

The Warriors have lost four of their past five to sit 14th and only two games clear of last place, but also welcome back rampaging winger Manu Vatuvei from a leg fracture for this week's must-win clash with the ladder leaders.

"Manu was a chance of playing a couple of weeks ago but we decided to hold off," Cleary said.

"And with Michael (Witt) available again, we had to decide whether Nathan (Fien) or Grant (Rovelli) would play at halfback.

"Ravs has been there all season and Fieny was moved from hooker to No.6 a couple of games ago. We're giving Fieny a crack this time."

Injury-depleted Wests Tigers have been boosted for their trip to Brisbane on Friday with hulking winger Taniela Tuiaki (infected arm) and lock Liam Fulton (shoulder) both named.

Penrith recalled Jarrod Sammut to the wing after dropping him last week, while hooker Keith Peters will play just his second NRL game against St George Illawarra on Friday night as he replaces injured rake Luke Priddis.

Sydney Roosters winger Amos Roberts is back after two weeks on the sidelines, forcing coach Brad Fittler to push Sam Perrett to the bench for Sunday's trip to Newcastle.

Canberra meanwhile have made no personnel changes to their side for Saturday's away trip to meet the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, but coach Neil Henry has altered their preparation in an attempt to end an horrendous away record of four successive losses.

Henry has ditched plans to fly to Sydney and will instead go "old-school" by putting the team on a bus for the trip.

"There's only so many ways you can do it (change preparation) but we're going to bus down which we haven't done," he said.

"We'll bus down the day before and again after the game, and because it's a 5.30pm kick-off we can get back by about midnight.

"Its like going back to the old days for the Raiders and putting a movie on and jumping on the team bus."

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