DARYL Powell is planning on ‘freshening’ up his side that visits Wakefield Trinity on Sunday, kick-off 3pm.

New arrival Thomas Mikaele is in contention to make his debut, an enforced change is needed at right centre for the suspended Peter Mata’utia, while Danny Walker and Josh Thewlis are ready to make returns after injury.

Powell said he is looking at Stefan Ratchford among his options to cover for the absence of Mata’utia, who has picked up a one-match ban for a late tackle on Liam Sutcliffe during Friday night’s 40-4 home defeat to Leeds Rhinos that left The Wire on a run of four straight losses and sat third from bottom of the Super League table.

“I think Pete’s been one of our better performers. He’s pretty experienced, he’s been reasonably consistent for us and it’s a blow but there’s always an opportunity for somebody else to go in there and play well. That’s the case this week.

“We’re having a look at a couple of options. Stef Ratchford’s played in the centres before, we’ve got Connor Wrench as an option, Ben Currie potentially moving from back row.

“I had a look at one option today (Wednesday), we’ll have a look at our further options tomorrow (Thursday) and see which fits for us.”

Powell added: “We came through the Leeds game alright in terms of injuries, so if anybody gets left out it won’t be through injury it’ll be through performance.

“With us not being where we need to be, individually and collectively, we’re going to need a bit of fresh input this week I think.

“Thomas, if he comes through, will be one of those. We’ve got Danny Walker back in contention after a little bit of a foot injury last week. So I’ve got to make a couple of calls around all those things.”

Powell has been impressed so far by Mikaele, who arrived in the country on Saturday after leaving Australian side Wests Tigers to join The Wire on a two-and-a-half year deal.

With 11th-placed Wakefield, who have defeated The Wire twice already at The Halliwell Jones Stadium this season, looking to go level on points with Warrington by winning, Mikaele’s inclusion could just be the spur needed.

“There’s a bit of jet-lag, he hasn’t really run out with the team yet, he’s just been getting tuned in, getting over jet-lag, doing a little bit of work in the gym and a little bit of running today,” said Powell.

“He’s a big fella, he comes across really well, was a good voice in the meeting room today. So first impressions are great of him as a person and the way he is around the rugby environment.

“So I’m just looking forward to seeing him train and then fingers crossed get him ready to play.

“He’s definitely in the thinking for Sunday. We’ll see how he goes tomorrow when he gets some real running done and gets in with the team.”

Powell specified what he wants from him in matches.

He said: “Just be himself, from everything I’ve seen. Last season he was the starting front rower at Wests Tigers and this year he has been coming off the bench after missing a bit of pre-season.

“It just shows what he can do.

“I don’t want to heap too much pressure on him. He just needs to go and play his game. He’s a middle-unit player, they’ve got a reasonably simple job. He’s a big player, he’s pretty athletic, so just be a handful and just help his team win a game.

“I was looking at a stat, don’t know if it was last year, where he attracted the most defenders in the competition. The amount of four-people tackles that he was involved in, in terms of people tackling him, was more than anybody else so if you’ve got somebody like that you’re going to expect that they’re going to create opportunities somewhere.”

Powell said he decided against lodging an appeal on Mata’utia’s ban.

“I looked at it, and I didn’t think there would be a chance. There was nothing much in it, but there was a little bit of flexion in the neck on Sutcliffe and where we are at the moment with the game you can’t do that.

“Pete knows that, and he’s had two of those in the past where he’s been slightly late on the passer so I don’t think we’d have been getting him off that.

“There are times when you just need to take your punishment and this was one of them.”