NEW signings Ashton Sims and Gary Wheeler are relishing Warrington Wolves’ festive friendly against Widnes Vikings.

Sunday’s clash at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, kick off 3pm, presents an early chance to give fans, coaches and teammates a taste of what they will be bringing to the primrose and blue cause in 2015.

They feature in a strong 20-man squad named by Tony Smith to face arch-rivals that Wolves last met when knocking them out of the play-offs three months ago.

The pair start exciting new chapters to their careers in contrasting circumstances.

Australian Sims, the 6ft 4in Fiji captain, was considered the form prop in the NRL before North Queensland Cowboys’ season ended in September.

The 29-year-old is a marquee signing on a two-year deal, preparing for his first season on English soil, while Wheeler has travelled under the radar in comparison.

Wheeler, a stand off or centre with nimble footwork, comes into Smith’s 2015 squad after injuries restricted the former England Academy international to 64 appearances in seven seasons at St Helens.

“This is going to be a very important game for me,” said 25-year-old Wheeler.

“I want to go out there and show the fans and Tony what I can do and try to get my eye into the team. It’s a lot more important to me than probably most of the players.”

Being on a 12-months contract, it has been crucial for St Helens-born Wheeler to settle in quickly.

“If you’re playing well, training well and things are going your way, a 12-months contract can work for you,” he said.

“It’s not a long time to prove yourself in front of Tony’s eyes. And there’s a lot of people you’ve first got to get past in the team just to get your face in there to show what you can do.”

A Christmas cracker with Widnes will prove a different experience for Sims, with none of his previous NRL sides participating in festive friendly fixtures.

“We usually started early February so this is totally different for me,” said Sims, who last played at The Halliwell Jones Stadium 13 months ago when helping Fiji defeat Samoa in the quarter finals of the Rugby League World Cup.

“It’s weird but something I’ve got to get my head around pretty quickly.

“Trial matches are good because they blow a couple of cobwebs out in terms of fitness.

“We’ve done a lot of skill work and a lot of conditioning work so I and the rest of the boys will be ready for a game on Sunday.

“I know a the boys are looking forward to having a bit of a hit out.”

n Continued on page 54 Training under Smith, his right-hand man Richard Agar, and new staff that include former Wigan Warriors conditioner Mick Turner has been going well for both men and their teammates.

Sims has been impressed by Wolves’ Padgate training base, but says the most important factor of his pre-season preparation remains the same – hard work.

“Training this time of year is always tough and it’s always tough when knowing there’s no game on the weekend,” he said.

“It’ll be good once the games start rolling around.

“There are subtle changes, but there’s always one underlying fact that you’ve got to work hard. Mick Turner has come down and brought a new approach to the club from what I hear.

“It’s something fresh for the guys that were already here and certainly fresh for me. It’s only a trial match but we’re prepared and everyone’s thoroughly looking forward to it.”

Wheeler, who said he came into pre-season training in better shape than he has in the past, has been impressed with everyone’s efforts.

“Everyone’s having a real dig,” he said.

“Tony has said this is the best group of lads he’s ever seen do a pre-season in terms of buying into what he wants.”

After a succession of mostly leg injuries impacted on his time with Saints, Wheeler is happy with the training methods being employed to get him ready for the rigours ahead.

“I’ve been having a lot of one-to-one stuff and personalised programmes - a completely different regime to what I was used to,” he said.

“The majority of the injuries I’ve had have been lower limb pulls or tears. A leg strengthening programme is something I’ve never really done but so far it’s been going really well and I can see the benefits already.”

Wolves squad to face Widnes: Roy Asotasi, Ben Currie, Anthony England, Ben Evans, Rhys Evans, Micky Higham, George King, Toby King, James Laithwaite, Richie Myler, Gareth O’Brien, Gene Ormsby, Declan Patton, Kevin Penny, Joe Philbin, Matty Russell, Ashton Sims, Tom Walker, Gary Wheeler, Paul Wood.