STEVE Price would have already known about the need for a fast start as Wolves boss, but that difficult task has just got tougher.

A poor start in the convoluted ‘23 rounds and then split into 8s’ system put the writing on the wall for The Wire last year.

Before the 2018 fixtures were released yesterday, Price would have already been pondering how best to get a revamped squad into shape without their hefty international contingent, some of whom may not return to training until the new year.

Now he knows his first competitive game in charge will come on Thursday, February 1 – the earliest date a Super League season has ever started.

Full Warrington Wolves 2018 fixtures

And to pile on the pressure, Wolves’ opener will see them host defending champions Leeds Rhinos at The Halliwell Jones Stadium – just 60 days after the Rugby League World Cup Final in Brisbane.

Should England reach or go beyond the semi finals, the likes of Chris Hill, Ben Currie, Kevin Brown and Stefan Ratchford will have less than half of the appropriate rest period and pre-season training than their Wire teammates.

The Wolves players who are not involved Down Under will have had 43 days off between the final game of 2017, against Hull KR on September 23, and their start to 85 days of pre-season training on Monday.

A possible solution to the short turnaround would be to stand down any number of those involved in the World Cup for the first couple of Super League games.

However, given Price’s need and desire for a fast start to life at Warrington, a tough first couple of months means he is going to need all his troops at his disposal.

Following the Leeds game, which could see recently-departed hooker Brad Dwyer making an early return to Warrington, Wolves face a traditionally tricky trip to Huddersfield before the always unpredictable ‘derby’ at Widnes.

Home games against Wigan and St Helens and trips to Hull FC and Catalans Dragons complete a hellishly tough start to the campaign for The Wire.

Furthermore, in July, three of Warrington’s final four regular round games are on the road and look tricky.

They travel to Wigan, Hull KR and Saints, with a home game against Catalans sandwiched in between.

The fixture computer certainly could have been kinder to Wolves, who also have an extra Challenge Cup round to negotiate after finishing in the bottom four this year.

There are two scheduled daytime home games for Wolves in 2018, against Hull KR on Saturday, April 14 and Castleford on Saturday, June 9.

The rest of their weekend afternoon kick offs are set to be away from home, with trips to Catalans (Saturday, March 17) and Salford (Saturday, April 7) coupled with an Easter Monday visit to Castleford and the Magic Weekend clash with Wigan in Newcastle.

Thirteen of their 23 games will take place on Friday nights.