WOLVES are taking Tuesday’s festive friendly against Widnes Vikings, kick off 3pm, “very seriously”, head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith says.

The Wire travel to the Select Security Stadium for their first pre-season test ahead of the 2017 Super League season.

Smith will use a mixture of senior, reserve and youth players for the game and says he is looking for his side to treat the fixture like a Super League game.

However, he admits he may have to “improvise” in certain areas against their near neighbours.

“We don’t play at low-tempo. Whenever we play Widnes it is always a tough fixture whether there’s league points at stake or not,” he said.

“I want us to play as if there is two points on offer. We’ll be taking this game very seriously.

“We take a lot of pride when we pull the Warrington jersey on and we’ll be looking to show that.

“We’re down a few bodies in a few key positions but it gives us a chance to experiment and try out some new things.”

Senior players such as Ashton Sims, Joe Westerman and Ryan Atkins are in Smith’s 24-man squad for the game, while Wire fans could see their first glimpse of new signings Dom Crosby and Andre Savelio in primrose and blue.

Perhaps more notably, former Widnes captain Kevin Brown is named in the squad just two weeks after leaving Denis Betts’ side for The Wire.

Smith says the England half-back is eager to play but says his condition must be taken into account.

“He’s only been back in training for a couple of weeks so we’ll have to assess him. We’ll play it by ear,” he said.

“Kev’s keen to get out there and I can understand why. He’ll be going away with the England camp in January so he wants to have as much time with his new teammates as possible.

“We’ll have to make sure he’s ready. If he isn’t quite right he won’t play.”

With Daryl Clark and Brad Dwyer both absent, Smith does not have a recognised hooker in his squad for the game but he unveiled his solution to the problem.

“Morgan Smith will certainly start the game at hooker. We may need to improvise with a few half-back options,” he said.

“Benjamin Jullien will spend time at dummy-half to give Morgan a go in the halves. Ben has been showing some good things in practice in that position.”

Full Wolves squad: Ryan Atkins, Matty Blythe, Kevin Brown, Dominic Crosby, Rhys Evans, Lewis Hatton, Jack Hughes, Jack Johnson, Ryan Jones, Benjamin Jullien, Declan Kay, George King, Toby King, Tom Lineham, Harvey Livett, Lee Mitchell, Pat Moran, Joe Philbin, Joe Ryan, Andre Savelio, Ashton Sims, Morgan Smith, Joe Westerman, Sam Wilde.