TONY Smith says Wolves are actively looking to strengthen their squad as a crucial stage of the season nears.

With five games to go until Super League splits, The Wire are two points adrift of the all-important top eight as they sit in 10th.

Victory against Wigan on Saturday will also see them into a Challenge Cup semi final for the sixth season in a row.

With Wolves desperately short of centres due to long-term injuries to Rhys Evans, Toby King, Harvey Livett and Matty Blythe, reports in the Australian media have linked them with a move for Penrith Panthers utility back Peta Hiku.

Hiku’s fellow Kiwi Bryson Goodwin was also linked with a move to The Halliwell Jones Stadium before he signed a two-year deal with Leigh Centurions.

While not naming specific targets, Smith did confirm Wolves were “checking things out” but stressed the difficulties involved with mid-season transfers.

“We’re certainly looking, it is difficult to get into the market at this stage of the year but we’re looking for solutions to the issues we have.

“Most players are tied up at this stage, especially those who are particularly of value.

“It wouldn’t be wrong to say we are checking things out.”

Blythe started in the centres alongside Stefan Ratchford in Sunday’s 36-16 defeat to Castleford Tigers but was taken off after just four minutes.

He has suffered a small fracture in his lower leg that Smith says will keep him out “for some time” but Ryan Atkins is set to return from a hernia injury to face the Warriors.

Kevin Brown (foot) and Kurt Gidley (calf) will both face fitness tests ahead of Saturday’s game, but Matty Russell (knee) will miss out again.

Ratchford could be set to play in the centres again, but Smith admits the team “miss out” on some of the England international’s talents when he plays there.

“He’s trying hard but it is a lack of involvement for Stef. We’ll assess that and work out what the best option for him is,” he said.

“It has been a bit of a bug bear for us to fill the centres, with Rhys Evans, Toby King and Harvey Livett out long-term, not having Ben Currie as a possible option and with Ryan Atkins being out last week.

“Stef has done it through necessity but we are missing out on some of what he brings to the table.

“The curse of the centres continues for us, poor old Matty only lasted four minutes!

“It was quite an innocuous tackle. It’s a compression injury of his knee and he’s got a small fracture in his lower leg.

“That’s going to be him out for some time, if not the remainder of the season.”