NEW ZEALAND veteran Brent Tate says the Warriors expect a finals intensity in tonight's clash with Manly as both sides jockey for the box seat to a home semi-final.

Two points apart in sixth and seventh, the Warriors and Sea Eagles can virtually forget playing finals football on home soil with a loss at Brookvale Oval tonight.

And former Kangaroos winger Tate says with so much riding on the result the Warriors are bracing for a dose of September football from the 2008 premiers.

Tate rates the Sea Eagles among the title favourites.

"A lot of that team has been there before and won that premiership in 2008 and I really think they can threaten this year as well," the 28-year-old said.

"In big games, big players come to the fore and you'd think it will be no different [tonight] with Manly.

"There's a lot riding on it so they'll be up for it."

The former Queensland winger missed the Kiwis' 14-6 loss to Manly in round four but says he is relishing the chance to match-up.

Signed with North Queensland for the next three years, Tate admits returning from his second serious knee injury this year has been tougher that the first time in 2008 as he battled through a disrupted off-season.

But slowly finding his groove, the former Broncos flyer says he is desperate to help deliver the Kiwis another finals berth.

And hopefully a home final.

Tate admits a sense of debt to the Warriors after three injury-plagued years across the Tasman.

"I think there's always that feeling," he said. "They have been really good to me here and I've really loved my time here so there would be nothing nicer than to finish on a high note there.

"At the end of the day you go out and you do your best every week and just because I've signed with the Cowboys doesn't change the way I feel about the place.

"If we can finish on a high that would be really good."

The Kiwis have lost first-choice hooker Ian Henderson for the clash, with Toyota Cup product Alehana Mara to make his debut from the bench, while New Zealand international Aaron Heremia will start.

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