"He wasn't great, missed a lot of tackles, didn't work hard enough to get onside a lot of the time," Payten said of Blair in the 46 - 10 loss.

"That's just not acceptable. Given his experience we keep him in the side. Anyone else I reckon they would have missed out completely.

"I think that sends a message to the rest of the team."

There have already been suggestions the club wants Blair to quit at the end of the season, even though he has the option to play in 2021.

Given the Warriors' precarious situation and fragile depth it makes Blair's exclusion even more dramatic. Rookie Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and loan forward Jack Hetherington are the starting props with Jazz Tevaga named as the other running middle forward.

The Roosters, who have won the last two NRL titles, will go into the game desperate to make amends after being beaten by an under-strength Canberra Raiders. They will also have had nine days of rest compared to the Warriors' six.

Payten didn't hold back when asked about his star wings Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu'a, who play their last game on Saturday night before returning to Auckland for family reasons.

Payten talked to them individually before the Sharks game, hoping the emotional factor would encourage big performances before they quit the camp in Australia.

Payten said: "I didn't think either of them played particularly well last week…we're looking for them to bounce back."