Joe Westerman will make his Warrington Wolves debut when they face Leigh Centurions this Sunday.
The loose-froward joined the Wolves from Hull FC but missed out on his new club’s opening pre-season run against Widnes. Meanwhile, Chris Sandow, Daryl Clark, Ben Westwood and newly-appointed captain Chris Hill will also get their first appearances of the new season against the ambitious Championship club.
New signings Kurt Gidley, Jack Hughes, Tom Lineham, Jordan Cox and Benjamin Jullien are also in contention to make their first appearances in primrose and blue at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
“There’s a lot of competition for places and starting positions,” Smith told The Warrington Guardian.
“They’re looking forward to the challenge of that and understand good performances are required at this stage of the year to get the nod for a first shot at it.
“Without putting undue pressure on them, they understand the necessity to perform well.”
Warrington squad: Ryan Atkins, Daryl Clark, Jordan Cox, Ben Currie, Brad Dwyer, Rhys Evans, Kurt Gidley, Chris Hill, Jack Hughes, Benjamin Jullien, George King, Tom Lineham, Gene Ormsby, Dec Patton, Kevin Penny, Joe Philbin, Matty Russell, Chris Sandow, Ashton Sims, Joe Westerman, Ben Westwood, Gary Wheeler.
