An injury to impressive Warriors rookie Glen Fisiiahi looks set to give veteran Lance Hohaia a reprieve for next weekend's NRL clash with Manly.

Hohaia was recalled to the bench as reserve hooker for Saturday night's 24-12 victory over the Sydney Roosters after being dumped altogether a week earlier following the club's poor start to 2011.

Fullback Fisiiahi's high ankle sprain, picked up just before halftime in an awkward tackle from Roosters pair Daniel Conn and Justin Carney, is expected to keep the 20-year-old sidelined for up to a month.

That should see Hohaia reinstated in his preferred No.1 jersey as the Warriors hope to build on back-to-back wins when they travel to Brookvale Oval on Saturday night.

As the Warriors stepped up their intensity and put in some committed defensive work, Hohaia showed he had regained some of the spark missing earlier in the season as he scored one of his side's four tries.

Hohaia, 28, is into his 10th season with his only NRL club and admitted he was "pretty disappointed" at being dropped against Cronulla.

At the same time, he conceded it was the kick up the backside he deserved.

"I'm just happy with my performance," Hohaia said of his display against the Roosters.

"Hopefully I can keep building on the back of that.

"I thought 'Fish' played outstanding last week so it was probably best that I was on the bench this week.

"Unfortunately he copped an injury there but I'm sure he will bounce back and we are all competing for spots again."

Coach Ivan Cleary pointed to the Warriors' defence as the key to getting past the Roosters.

"Our defence won us the game, I thought," he said.

"It was certainly a focus during the week against a side that's obviously one of the best attacking teams in the comp."

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