WOLVES’ younger players will get the chance to impress head coach Steve Price in their festive friendly against Widnes Vikings tomorrow, Friday, kick off 8pm.

Price has picked a combination of youth and experience in his 19-man squad, with academy graduates Joe Pilling, Brad Pinder and Ellis Robson in line to make their first senior appearances.

Rugby union convert Taylor Prell may feature, while Wire fans could get the chance to see new signings Bryson Goodwin, Mitch Brown and Luis Johnson in action for the first time.

Joe Philbin, George King and Matty Russell are included after their exploits with Ireland and Scotland at the Rugby League World Cup, while the game comes too soon for Ben Murdoch-Masila, Chris Hill, Kevin Brown, Ben Currie and Stefan Ratchford.

“It’s going to be an opportunity for a lot of our younger guys to show their worth,” Price said of the game at the Halton Stadium.

“There’ll be a number of players who won’t play because they haven’t had enough time to train with the group, whether that be because of the World Cup or other factors.

“We’ve had nine guys at the World Cup, so we’re managing them properly to make sure they’re fit and healthy going into round one.

“In critical positions, it’s important to have the time to build those combinations. The players have developed a lot of trust and belief in each other.

“It’s exciting for the football club and the Wire fans. I’d like to see plenty of fans out there to get behind the boys.”

Tomorrow’s game is the first of three pre-season friendlies Wolves have before kicking off their 2018 campaign against defending Super League champions Leeds Rhinos on Thursday, February 1.

Price has been putting the players through their paces for almost two months and took his squad to an army camp in Yorkshire last week.

He says players and coaches alike are keen to see how they dovetail with each other on a matchday.

However, he warned Wolves fans that the changes he is trying to make “will not happen overnight.”

“I’ve been really pleased with the guys to date. It’s been a tough pre-season but we’ve broken for a few days leading into this game,” he said.

“As a whole, I’m pleased with how they’ve grown and progressed as men and more importantly, as a team.

“I’ve brought a whole different style to the organisation, and it’s important that all my coaches sing to the same tune, which we are doing.

“They haven’t worked with me on a match day and vice versa. It’s an important opportunity for us to get to understand and observe people’s strengths and weaknesses.

“I’m looking forward to putting into practice all that we’ve been implementing over the past seven weeks.

“It’s not going to happen overnight though, it’s going to take a bit of time.”

Wolves squad: Mitch Brown, Mike Cooper, Bryson Goodwin, Jack Johnson, Luis Johnson, George King, Toby King, Tom Lineham, Harvey Livett, Pat Moran, Dec Patton, Joe Philbin, Joe Pilling, Brad Pinder, Taylor Prell, Ellis Robson, Matty Russell, Morgan Smith, Ben Westwood.