“WE’VE had to hold him back a little bit but the time has come.”

As Greg Inglis gets ready to make his long-awaited Warrington Wolves debut this weekend, Steve Price has been quick to lower expectations.

The legendary Australian centre will be in the Wire 17 that takes on Hull Kingston Rovers tomorrow in their first Super League game back at The Halliwell Jones Stadium this year.

By rights, it is an occasion that demands the kind of raucous fanfare that greeted Andrew Johns’ Warrington bow back in 2005, as a sold-out ground welcomed another of the game’s greats.

Sadly, Covid restrictions will mean ‘GI’ pulls on the primrose and blue jersey for the first time behind closed doors in a game being broadcast exclusively to members on the OurLeague app.

Nevertheless, the excitement of those within the club who have witnessed his preparations first hand is tangible.

“Greg’s worked extremely hard since he’s arrived,” Price said.

“We’ve always had a plan and the plan falls on this Saturday.

“We’re lucky that it’s fallen when we’re playing at the Halliwell Jones. It’s unfortunate that there will be no fans there but it is what it is and the big fella is ready to go.

“It’s exciting for the club and it’s exciting for Greg.

“There’s no expectation from our point of view, we just want to see him enjoying his rugby again.

“He’s been doing full contact for quite a while. He’s been desperate to play.

“We’ve had to hold him back a little bit but the time has come this weekend.”

With incumbent centres Toby King and Jake Mamo both in fine form, Price faces the unenviable task of deciding who drops out of the team that delivered a notable 24-8 win over the previously-unbeaten Catalans Dragons on Saturday.

Indeed if anyone is best-placed to benefit from Inglis' presence within the squad, it is surely outside backs such as the aforementioned duo.

However, King has been tasked to ensure he is not outshined by the modern-day great – no mean feat.

"His class and his leadership is very strong. You can tell he is so naturally gifted and he’s going to be hard to put down when he plays," he said.

"For me this year, I want to build my own dynasty and not be in the shadow of Greg.

"He’ll get the limelight and rightly so. He’s been the best centre in the world, but I want to write my own headlines.

"I want what’s best for the team and if Greg’s killing it for us, it’s good for us as a team.

"He’s been buzzing to get himself fit and in the team. Everyone’s excited and he’s been very strong."

You can follow all the action as it happens from Warrington Wolves' clash with Hull KR live on the Warrington Guardian website, with Matchday Live getting underway from 11.15am