WARRINGTON Wolves will open Tetley's Super League VIII against a strong kicking team while probably without a first choice winger and full back.

Wolves' head coach Paul Cullen has highlighted the strengths of Huddersfield Giants' Steve McNamara with the boot ahead of Saturday's clash with the promoted new boys at the McAlpine Stadium, kick-off 6.05pm.

At the same time Cullen has ruled out full back Lee Penny with a recurrence of a calf strain and almost certainly winger Rob Smyth, who has a virus - two players who would normally be on the receiving end of McNamara's hoofs down field.

Former Huddersfield star Graham Appo and young gun Nick Owen are fighting to take over the No.1 berth while Kevin Crouthers and Dean Gaskell are in hot competition for the wide spot.

Saturday night is Huddersfield's return to the big time, they can not afford to let their public down and this is turning into a tricky test of Cullen's squad - despite the Giants' poor form going into Super League.

Their Papua New Guinean international Stanley Gene is a class act and will have to be watched like a hawk while they will have a 2002 Grand Final runner-up in their midst in Australian Brandon Costin, who has rejoined them from Bradford Bulls.

Cullen said: "My only concern, although their pre-season form doesn't indicate it, is that last year Huddersfield had an outstanding kick-chase game and that was the base for their entire programme.

"They kick the ball very well through their captain McNamara and they chase well. Conversely, the return of the ball from the kick-chase was a big part of their go-forward. They escorted the runners, almost to a point of obstruction, away from their first line of return and they did it very well.

"The added value of Stanley Gene in the NFP last season, proved too much for most. He was too dynamic, too powerful and too experienced.

"One would expect him to be a threat again this year. Gene and McNamara will be their two key players while we are yet to find out how Costin fits into the Huddersfield structure.

"They have genuine pace and talent out wide, although in a young three-quarters line, and they exploit the biggest pitch in Super League very well.

"The pitch runs to almost maximum length and width allowed and last year at NFP level they exploited that against sides that were slower. So we have to be wary of their attempts to play to that sort of game.

"They will also be smarting from their two pre-season losses, one against Leeds Rhinos in a trial game and one against Hunslet. So they've lost to senior and NFP opposition locally and that will have heightened interest within their camp and within their town.

"For us, we are smarting from the way the game went away from us against Bradford due to the form of the Bulls and also due to the circumstances that we allowed to develop around us.

"We are determined to travel to Yorkshire and come back with two points."

Prop Warren Stevens will also be missing on Saturday after a groin strain picked up in training. Jerome Guisset, Paul Noone and Matt Sturm are clamouring for the chance to show what they can do in his place.

Wolves to face Huddersfield: Graham Appo/Nick Owen; Brent Grose, Ian Sibbit, Ben Westwood, Dean Gaskell/Kevin Crouthers; Lee Briers, Nathan Wood; Nick Fozzard, Jon Clarke, Mark Hilton, Darren Burns, Mike Wainwright, Sid Domic. Subs from: Mark Gleeson, Paul Wood, Paul Noone, Jerome Guisset, Matt Sturm.