WARRINGTON Wolves will be looking to bury the memory of their Odsal Challenge Cup disaster when they entertain unbeaten Castleford Tigers.

Coach Darryl Van de Velde, in his search for pre-Bradford form, will juggle around his team for Sunday's first Super League game at home this season, kick-off 3pm.

And to help Super League IV kick off with a bang at Wilderspool, there will be colour poster giveaways to supporters, huge turnstile reductions for students and new dancing girls to provide pre-match entertainment (see later in report).

All was going well for the Wolves and optimism was high until the dreadful 52-16 Challenge Cup quarter-finals defeat to Bradford on Sunday.

Van de Velde says: "We've got to learn from failure. We aren't good enough at this point in time, it was a big wake-up call for us so we have to work harder. And that's why the players were in training on Wednesday doing extra on their day off.

"We've talked through it and now this is a different game, it is different opposition and we need to go on to the field and play the way we had done prior to Bradford.

"The true test of a character of any person is defeat. I'm looking for the player who can put his hand up and say 'I didn't do the business, I didn't play well enough and there's something I have got to learn from the game to make sure it doesn't happen again.'

"But we're not panicking after one game. It was a bad day, uncharacteristic to be fair and one that I didn't see coming but it's back to business, we've just got to forget about that game, look at the positives - of which there weren't many - and take that into Sunday's game."

Van de Velde could be forced into reshuffling his side if Lee Penny is not considered fit to play, with a decision to be made nearer to Sunday.

But he said: "You can't come through a defeat like that and not make changes. I will take responsibility for the performance but players have to take their part too. There will be changes but it will be juggling the 18-man squad."

Mike Wainwright was the 18th man at Bradford, missing his first game since 1997, and he is likely to make the 17 in any case due to Dean Busby struggling with a badly bruised hip bone.

Wolves squad: Lee Penny, Jason Roach, Toa Kohe-Love, Jon Roper, Mark Forster, Scott Wilson, Lee Briers, Mark Hilton, Danny Farrar, Danny Nutley, Steve McCurrie, Simon Gillies, Ian Knott, Dean Hanger, Gary Chambers, Alan Hunte, Dean Busby, Mike Wainwright.

Castleford come to town on a high after defeating Salford Reds on Saturday to clinch a Challenge Cup semi-finals tie with London Broncos.

They came from behind late on in their first Super League game to beat Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 12-10 at Wheldon Road.

The Tigers' boss Stuart Raper bought wisely during the close-season and has strengthened his squad with Australians Mike Eagar, a centre who had 12 months with the Wolves last year, prop James Pickering from Sydney City, hooker Aaron Raper from Parramatta and back rower Dale Fritz from North Queensland. Salford winger Darren Rogers was captured too.

Van de Velde spoke about the danger from their half backs this week.

He said: "They have clever halves in Danny Orr and Brad Davies. Orr has a big left-foot step and is a good kid.

"They have strengthened really well generally and will be tough opponents."

The Wolves will be giving away full colour posters featuring the 1999 squad picture and fixtures at Sunday's game.

The club will be introducing their new dancing team on Sunday. The Warrington Starlights are a high-energy, highly polished dancing group who will add razzmatazz to the match day experience.

Students can cash in at Wilderspool this season with the Wolves announcing a fantastic deal for them. Students who produce their NUS pass will gain admission to the ground for £5 instead of £9 or entry to the stand for £7 instead of £13 at Warrington's home Super League games in 1999.

For ground entry, students should show their NUS pass at the concession turnstile. For the Brian Bevan Stand, students are advised to present their pass at the ticket office.

Chief executive Peter Deakin says: "I am delighted to announce the scheme which I am sure will be of great benefit to the local student population and the club.

"It is very important that we develop our relationship with all elements of our local community, of which students play an important part."

Warrington are monitoring Chris Rudd's situation very closely after his double Achilles' operation in London last week. The club will continue to liaise with a specialist before announcing how long the Cumbrian centre will be sidelined from the game.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.