TONY Smith and his coaching team are preparing Warrington Wolves’ Padgate training centre for the first wave of players returning for pre-season training.

Smith has set a date of Thursday, November 22 to be the start of some players’ pre-season regime, with those not involved in international action or recovering from operations set to start preparations for the 2013 Super League season in earnest.

Players recovering from pre-season operations will undergo rehab before slotting back into training when ready, while those involved in international action with England, Ireland and Wales have been given the rest of the year off.

Ben Harrison, who has just finished England duty following the culmination of the Autumn International Series, said: “We have got until after Christmas off. We start again at Wolves in the new year.

“So all the England boys and the others will enjoy a little break now and let ourselves recover.

“Hopefully the bumps and bruises, like my knees, that we have been carrying through the year will heal up in time for us to rip into pre-season in the new year.”