WILLIE Poching is backing Ben Evans to overcome a lengthy lay-off and rediscover the form that has seen him become a Warrington Wolves regular.

The prop suffered a potentially serious ankle injury after appearing to collide with Ben Westwood when closing down Salford danger man Rangi Chase on Sunday.

Early indications are ligament damage, but first team coach Poching is confident the 21-year-old can recover strongly.

“He’s going to need a little while out of the game,” said Poching. “There’s still some research going on from the medical department.

“It’s unfortunate because he’s been going really well this year. He’s played nearly every game for us and taken the opportunity he’s been given with both hands.

“He got a start last week and he’s really energetic. I spoke to him on Monday and he was pretty disappointed, as every player would be if they were looking at a stretch on the sidelines.

“But he’s positive about his rehab, getting himself better and coming back in better shape to have another crack at it.

“He’s put himself in a position where he’ll get another look in when he gets fit and healthy again.”

Wolves host Bradford Bulls on Sunday, 3pm, and Poching expects the visitors will be keen to impress new head coach and former Wolves boss James Lowes in his first game in charge.

“You get a new boss in and everybody wants to impress,” added the former Samoa international. “It’s a clean slate, everybody wants to try and get themselves in a position to play.

“They’ll be keen to impress him and finish their season as strong as they can, they’ve got every reason to try and turn their season around.”

Poching admits confidence is high in the Wolves camp following seven successive wins, but stressed the side will not show any complacency come Sunday.

“The boys have done a really good job in getting us up the ladder,” he explained. “But we can’t afford to be complacent, it’s about continuing what we have been doing.

“There’s nothing better than stringing a few wins together for team spirit and harmony, the whole environment buzzes and we saw the opposite side with the grind at the beginning of the season.

“People were working hard and they’re still working hard now, but they have smiles on their faces and the best way to get any team through is to win together – you can slip up anywhere if you start to get distracted.”

Poching, along with fellow coach Richard Marshall, will leave the club at the end of the campaign, but the 40-year-old is yet to make a decision on his future.

“I know what I want, but what I want and what I get could be two different things,” he said. “I’m prepared for that, that’s why I’m prepared to really search.

“At the moment I’m enjoying what’s happening here and looking forward to finishing really strongly, there’s also an obligation to look forward to the future so things will pan out, I’m confident of it.”