WARRINGTON Wolves will be much closer to full strength when they take on St Helens in Saturday’s Challenge Cup quarter final.

Head coach Steve Price confirmed he is expecting seven established first-team players to return for the repeat of last year’s Challenge Cup Final at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Co-captains Chris Hill and Jack Hughes have each missed the past two games, as have Gareth Widdop, Joe Philbin, Jason Clark, Samy Kibula and Matt Davis.

Daryl Clark also missed last week’s 12-10 win over former club Castleford Tigers after he and wife Leigh welcomed their first daughter Luna into the world.

While Price was full of praise for the job his squad have done over the past fortnight, he is thrilled to be able to call upon some more experience.

“I’ve been really pleased with the guys who have come in over the last few weeks,” he said.

“When one man steps down, another steps up when that opportunity presents itself and they certainly did.

“On the flip side, I’m really pleased to get those seven players back this week.

“They’re establish first-grade players and they will make a big difference to our team.”

The Wire will find out this evening if – and for how long – they will be without winger Tom Lineham after he was hit with a Grade F Other Contrary Behaviour charge for allegedly grabbing the testicles of Castleford’s Alex Foster during Thursday’s game.

Warrington Guardian:

Tom Lineham faces a disciplinary tribunal tonight. Picture by Mike Boden

If found guilty, Lineham faces a minimum ban of eight matches but Price would not reveal whether or not the grading would be contested.

“The hearing’s tonight but I’ll leave it in the hands of the tribunal,” he said.

“We’ll let it do its due course and we’ll go from there.”

Price also explained the reason behind the absence of prop Sitaleki Akauola from recent squads.

He has not featured in the past three games and Price says his absence is performance-based

“I’ve just been really pleased with how everyone else is playing and with what the 21-man squads have been presenting,” he said.

“Sita knows where he stands.”

Warrington Guardian:

Sitaleki Akauola - seen here scoring against Hull KR last month - has not featured in The Wire's past three games. Picture by Mike Boden