BEN Murdoch-Masila will make his first Wolves appearance in Saturday’s friendly against former club Salford Red Devils, head coach Steve Price has confirmed.

The second-rower, who only arrived at the club last week after visa issues delayed his departure from Australia, is one of a number of star players who are set to feature in The Wire’s final pre-season match before Super League gets underway again.

Skipper Chris Hill, new vice-captain Kevin Brown, Ben Currie, Stefan Ratchford and Ryan Atkins are also set for their first outings under Price.

Mike Cooper returns, but new signings Tyrone Roberts and Sitaleki Akauola are still not fit to play, joining Toby King, Dec Patton and Dom Crosby on the sidelines.

Ahead of Tongan international Murdoch-Masila’s first game in primrose and blue, Price believes his arrival was “perfectly timed” as it meant he took part in the club’s training camp in South Wales.

“Ben arrived on the Tuesday last week and he’s gravitated to the boys really quickly. It’s great to have him as part of our footy club,” he told the Guardian.

“He’s a footballer with a lot of good things going for him and we’re looking forward to him putting on a Wire jersey this weekend.

“It was really important to get him down to camp, more for him to get to know the guys for longer.

“It gave him a chance to find out more about his new teammates through rooming with them and being with them 24/7.

“The timing of it was perfect actually. He’s buzzing and he’s happy to be part of the club.

“I see Ben playing an edge back-row role, but also a tight role.

“I don’t have a set agenda for him at the moment. I just want him to get some minutes under his belt and see where it takes him.”

King limped out of Saturday’s 24-10 friendly win over Rochdale Hornets with a hamstring injury, while Patton missed out altogether with a similar problem.

The centre’s 2017 campaign was ended by hamstring trouble, but the Wire boss says his latest injury is “nothing to be too concerned about.”

He added: “Toby is looking at a grade-two hamstring strain, so it’ll be between three and four weeks.

“It’s not a major one, I wouldn’t be too concerned about it.

“He’ll be ready to go soon but we’ve got to be more careful with his history of hamstring injuries. He’ll go close for the Leeds game.

“Tyrone and Sita are getting close, they are doing everything right in rehab but they won’t be ready for this weekend.

“Dom Crosby is still rehabbing but apart from them, everyone is fit and ready to go.”