Warriors coach Ivan Cleary insists Wade McKinnon's impending date with the NRL judiciary is not affecting his side's focus for Saturday's must-win road trip to Parramatta.
McKinnon, who was present at Warriors training in the Mt Smart Stadium gym on Wednesday morning, will appear in Sydney later in the day charged with an alleged spitting incident at linesman Ben Suttor in Sunday's 42-20 win over Penrith.
The loss of the in-form fullback, just three weeks after his return from major knee surgery, would be a bitter blow for the Warriors who need to overcome McKinnon's former outfit to have any chance at the top-eight.
However, Cleary denies the events since Sunday's alleged incident have disrupted the Warriors' preparations for the match at Parramatta Stadium.
"We'll just prepare basically without him because you have to. The good thing is we'll know by tonight so whatever happens, we'll move on," he said.
Asked if he had options in place should McKinnon be suspended, Cleary added: "Not plenty but we know what we're going to do.
"Obviously we've got Lance [Hohaia] there so he would slot straight in and has been there most of the year. We're quietly confident but you have to have contingency plans and we've got one."
Hohaia stepped ably into the custodial role after McKinnon's pre-season injury and has been one of the Warriors' most consistent performers in 2008.
While the club awaits the judiciary's decision, their finals destiny also hangs on the eighth-placed Knights' trip to Brisbane on Friday night.
The Broncos, who have their own motivation in seeking two points for a possible top-four home semi finish, must win to keep the Warriors' hopes alive.
However, Cleary says he, nor his players, will have the maroon and white pom-poms out to cheer on Wayne Bennett's men.
"If we're spending the week worrying about what happens in other games that means we won't be prepared," Cleary said.
"If we don't perform on Saturday night, we don't go anywhere anyway. Regardless of the other results, obviously there's a few we'd like to go our way, but I'm not concerned about that at all, to be honest.
"I just want to go and play away from home and put in a good performance and I think for the majority of the year we've fallen short of that. That's the main focus this week."
McKinnon, who was present at Warriors training in the Mt Smart Stadium gym on Wednesday morning, will appear in Sydney later in the day charged with an alleged spitting incident at linesman Ben Suttor in Sunday's 42-20 win over Penrith.
The loss of the in-form fullback, just three weeks after his return from major knee surgery, would be a bitter blow for the Warriors who need to overcome McKinnon's former outfit to have any chance at the top-eight.
However, Cleary denies the events since Sunday's alleged incident have disrupted the Warriors' preparations for the match at Parramatta Stadium.
"We'll just prepare basically without him because you have to. The good thing is we'll know by tonight so whatever happens, we'll move on," he said.
Asked if he had options in place should McKinnon be suspended, Cleary added: "Not plenty but we know what we're going to do.
"Obviously we've got Lance [Hohaia] there so he would slot straight in and has been there most of the year. We're quietly confident but you have to have contingency plans and we've got one."
Hohaia stepped ably into the custodial role after McKinnon's pre-season injury and has been one of the Warriors' most consistent performers in 2008.
While the club awaits the judiciary's decision, their finals destiny also hangs on the eighth-placed Knights' trip to Brisbane on Friday night.
The Broncos, who have their own motivation in seeking two points for a possible top-four home semi finish, must win to keep the Warriors' hopes alive.
However, Cleary says he, nor his players, will have the maroon and white pom-poms out to cheer on Wayne Bennett's men.
"If we're spending the week worrying about what happens in other games that means we won't be prepared," Cleary said.
"If we don't perform on Saturday night, we don't go anywhere anyway. Regardless of the other results, obviously there's a few we'd like to go our way, but I'm not concerned about that at all, to be honest.
"I just want to go and play away from home and put in a good performance and I think for the majority of the year we've fallen short of that. That's the main focus this week."
