BEN Murdoch-Masila says his role as an impact substitute for The Wire suits him down to the ground.

The powerful Tonga second rower was mainly used from the start for previous club Salford Red Devils before joining Warrington ahead of this season.

However, he now forms part of a powerful interchange trio at Warrington alongside fellow Tongan Sitaleki Akauola and Joe Philbin.

Only five of the 19 appearances Murdoch-Masila has made this season have come from the start, but the 27-year-old says that’s just the way he likes it.

He also says he is “nowhere near” his best form just yet in a season that has been disrupted by injuries, with the latest being an Achilles problem that kept him out for six weeks before he returned in Thursday’s defeat to St Helens.

“I actually prefer coming off the bench to starting games. I get to see who’s tired on the field and pick them out to run at,” he said.

“Pricey’s told me I make more of an impact coming off the bench so I’m happy with that.

“It’s an important job to come on and pick the boys up when they’re a bit tired so, so it’s a role I’m enjoying.

“I feel good again. It’s good to be back with the boys.

“It hurt to lose at Saints and the lungs were blowing at the end, but I love being back out on the field.

“The kind of injuries I’ve had have been irritating, particularly this one in my Achilles area.

“I’ve had to get back to basics and build myself up again.

“There’s so much more to come from me. I know that in my own mind.

“Going off my performances for Salford last year, I know I’m nowhere near that level yet.

“There’s a lot of work for me to do but if I do that, the fans will see the best of me very soon.”

Murdoch-Masila will line up in his second successive Challenge Cup semi-final on Sunday when The Wire face Leeds Rhinos in Bolton.

He was in the Salford side that lost out on a place at Wembley last year when they were beaten by Wigan at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

However, the former Wests Tigers man says it is important to play the game and not the occasion at the University of Bolton Stadium.

“I was involved in a semi-final last year and the hype was massive. Now I’m at Warrington, it’s even bigger and I absolutely cannot wait,” he said.

“I was quite happy at the end of the semi-final last year, even though we lost.

“I know I gave all I had and that we put 100 per cent in as a team.

“That’s what I’m looking for from the boys this weekend. If we put in 100 per cent effort, we can be proud whether we win or lose.

“I’m just trying to treat it as another game. We can’t get caught up in the hype too much.

“You can get caught off guard if you get swept up in the occasion, so we just need to stick to the basics.”

“I don’t know too much about the history of Wembley, but the boys are buzzed about the chance to maybe play there.

“Leeds is Leeds. On the big occasions, they always step up. We know they are going to come out firing.

“They are coming off a loss to Salford which they will be disappointed with, so they will be gunning for us.”