WOLVES forward Chris Hill is expecting the forwards to take centre stage in tomorrow night’s Super League opener against St Helens.

As the snow, sleet, wind and rain take hold of the country for another week, conditions at The Halliwell Jones Stadium should lend themselves to a tough slog between two new-look packs and Hill is relishing the test.

“I think no matter what the weather will be like, we will always be in for a tough forward battle against Saints,” said the 26-year-old England international.

“They are always difficult down the middle and it will likely prove to be something of a battle with the conditions set to be miserable.

“Saints are definitely looking stronger in that area.

“I thought they were good in that area last year, but they’re stronger again.

“Getting Kyle Amor in from Wakefield is a good signing for them and we just just need to go toe-to-toe and give it them back.”

Hill, who looked his usual tackle-busting self when punching holes in Salford’s defence last week, will be one of the more familiar faces in a Wolves pack that also contains some new members.

The arrival of Anthony England from Championship club Featherstone Rovers last year means that he has already made himself at home in Wolves’ squad, while former South Sydney Rabbitohs prop Roy Asotasi only met his new team for the first time in January.

The promotion of Glenn Riley into first-team contention completes Wolves’ adaption following the departure of Adrian Morley, Garreth Carvell and Mike Cooper, but Hill does not believe they will be weaker for that.

In fact, despite their short time together, Hill is confident that he and his new teammates will form some fairly potent partnerships in the front row over the coming weeks.

“We met Roy in Australia and I spent some time training with him and then played alongside him against Salford,” said Hill.

“We are still getting to know each other and how we both play, but that will come.

“Roy and I will likely work very well together.

“He has got a good pass on him, he is strong going forward and is a great talker and leader.

“England has been training the house down for a few months already, he is going to be a great player for us.

“In the coming months he’ll get used to Super League and hopefully adapt really well, while Glenn is a great player to have in the squad as well.”