WOLVES boss Tony Smith is preparing his troops for battle against one of Super League’s form teams, with surprise package Castleford Tigers bringing their battle for Super League supremacy to The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Friday night, kick off 8pm.

Wolves will be wearing a special edition of their home kit on Friday, in honour of our Armed Forces, and Smith will be ordering his players to be wary of the threat posed by the Tigers, despite them being without a Super League win in their last four matches.

Smith said: “They have been one of the better performing clubs this year and have have shown this year that they present a challenge to anyone.

“On their day they are able to defeat anyone, so that makes it a very dangerous fixture for us, and they will offer a challenge we will look forward to.”

Their form is in no small way down to the performances of half back pairing Danny Orr and Rangi Chase, with the latter regularly demonstrating his ability to cut sides apart with his incisive passing.

For Smith, however, the danger does not stop at the Tigers' playmakers.

“We will have to try and keep Rangi Chase quiet, as he is a terrific player, but it is not just him we have to worry about.

“Both of their half backs have been in great form, with Danny Orr rediscovering some of his best form and combining well with Rangi to pose a real threat.

“We cannot afford to focus too much on one player, as they have too much in their armoury.”

There is one player in particular who has helped Castleford’s excellent start to the season, one who will be familiar to the Wolves faithful on Friday.

After two seasons in primrose and blue, Richie Mathers will make his first return to The Halliwell Jones since his departure in November.

Smith is looking forward to catching up with his former full back, but only after Wolves have picked up two Super League points.

“Richie has done a good job for them this year, as he did when he was with us.

“I’m pleased for him, and am looking forward to a catch-up but when we’re on the field he’ll just be another player.”

While Tigers will be in little doubt about their half back pairing for Friday, the injury of Richie Myler has left Smith with a conundrum regarding who will get the nod to partner Lee Briers.

Under 20s star Gareth O’Brien demonstrated his talent against Keighley on Sunday, but against Super League opposition Smith may be tempted to revert to more experience in the shape of Jon Clarke, Simon Grix or Chris Bridge.

Apart from the injuries to Ben Harrison, who damaged ankle ligaments against Cougars on Sunday, and Richie Myler, Smith is pleased to have a fully fit squad from which to choose his side.

Wolves 19-man squad: Louis Anderson, Ryan Atkins, Matty Blythe, Chris Bridge, Lee Briers, Garreth Carvell, Jon Clarke, Mike Cooper, Simon Grix, Mickey Higham, Brett Hodgson, Matt King, Joel Monaghan, Michael Monaghan, Adrian Morley, Gareth O’Brien, David Solomona, Ben Westwood, Paul Wood.