Ford and Watene-Zelezniak alone would bring another 360 games back into the side.
Ford was one of the NRL’s form players during the first half of the season, averaging 161m with the ball and 41 tackles across 76 minutes per game.
The 29-year-old even led the Dally M voting for the NRL’s best player at one stage before voting went behind closed doors.
But his season was derailed in June when he suffered a torn pectoral muscle against the North Queensland Cowboys in Christchurch, requiring surgery.
Ford has since re-signed with the Warriors for a further two seasons while continuing his rehabilitation and is now edging closer to a return.
“He’s going good,” Webster said. “He’s getting closer and might be a chance for week one.”
Watene-Zelezniak is also recovering from surgery after breaking his collarbone in last month’s win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The 31-year-old suffered the injury when he landed awkwardly on his right shoulder after being ankle-tapped by Cody Walker as he raced towards the line.
Watene-Zelezniak played on and was in the process of coming from the field early in the second half when the ball found its way out to his wing. He ran back on to the field, scored his 20th try of the season and landed on the injured shoulder in the process.
Webster remains hopeful his leading winger will be available for the finals, but says there are still hurdles to clear.
“There’s no reason to think he won’t be available,” Webster said. “He’s got some big boxes to tick in the coming days to be available for next week.”
The Warriors could also have Luke Metcalf back later in their finals campaign, although the halfback’s hamstring injury means he is unlikely to feature in week one.
Metcalf suffered the injury while kicking a conversion during the Warriors’ win over the Brisbane Broncos and told NRL360 on Tuesday that he would not be fit until the third week of the finals.
Unless another injury strikes, that means the 26-year-old has likely played his final game for the Warriors this season.
Meanwhile, Webster has made it clear he wants injury-ravaged centre Rocco Berry to remain at the club beyond this season.
Berry has been limited to just 52 NRL appearances since making his debut in 2021, with a series of shoulder and hamstring problems restricting his time on the field.
Rocco Berry in action for the Warriors NSW Cup side. Photo / Photosport
The 25-year-old has struggled with injuries again this year and has played just six games in the New South Wales Cup.
“I want him here,” Webster said. “It’s once again a private conversation Rocco and I have had and until it’s cleared up, we’ll leave it at that.
“If the question is will we, I don’t know, but do we want him? Yes.”
The Warriors’ centre stocks could undergo further change, however, with the Daily Telegraph reporting that Adam Pompey has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs despite having a year remaining on his contract.
The publication says that with the impending arrival of Will Warbrick and Grant Anderson, they are facing a squeeze in the outside backs.
Before they turn their attention to the finals, the Warriors have one final regular-season game to negotiate when they face the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday.
They still have a chance to claim the club’s second minor premiership, but Webster has opted to make wholesale changes to his side.
Only Wayde Egan and Kurt Capewell have been rested, while Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin return from injury and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is back after serving a two-match suspension.
Webster believes the trio will benefit from the game time after missing varying amounts of football in recent weeks.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.