Warriors playmaker and major Auckland Nines draw card Shaun Johnson is desperate to appear at the tournament in front of his home fans and potentially help steer the perennial bridesmaids to their first Nines title.

The superstar halfback is returning from a broken ankle finishing his 2015 campaign and any chance the Warriors had of making the NRL playoffs.

“I would be gutted [not playing Nines] but I would only be gutted because it was a target I set when I first did the injury” Johnson said.

“The surgeon said that should be plenty of time for me to come back and play it.

“It’s a tournament I love being a part of and I think it’s important, given it’s in Auckland, that the Warriors do well.

We saw last year, especially after we lost in the quarter-final, the stadium emptied as soon as we lost. As a club, we want to do well and put on a show.

“There are a lot of people out there who want to watch players who are going to put on that show so hopefully I can be there.”